Join more than 10,000 cyclists in 35 communities across Canada, including Victoria, in the Ride Don’t Hide event, on June 25.
Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps, herself a bicycle enthusiast, recently kicked off the campaign, a fundraiser for the Canadian Mental Health Association, to promote mental health. This is the sixth year of the cross-country event.
The association is calling on cyclists and non-cyclists alike to join the movement that’s gearing up and gathering momentum across the country.
“Ride Don’t Hide is an opportunity to come together to fundraise as a community and say mental health is important to me, and it’s time to banish the stigma often associated with it,” said Jocelyn de Montmorency, Victoria program manager. “We are so thankful for the support from the community, and those who have shared their personal stories of why mental health is important to them.”
The movement began with Michael Schratter, a Vancouver school teacher living with bipolar disorder, who spent almost a year and a half cycling 40,000 kilometres around the globe.
Helps is slated to take part by riding with participants at the event in June.
The Canadian Mental Health Association, founded in 1918, is the most established, most extensive community mental-health organization in Canada.
Registration is $40 and is open to individuals, families and teams of all ages and skill levels. Organizers aim to raise a record $1.5 million across Canada.
Go to ridedonthide.com.
Hygiene kits welcome gifts at shelters
Help give the gift of hygiene to five marginalized people for $25 a month as part of the Keep Victoria Clean campaign.
Soap for Hope, a program of Disaster Aid Canada, has launched the campaign to help fund the cost of 8,500 hygiene kits to be distributed at local shelters.
The kits include soap, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body lotion, toothpaste, a toothbrush, deodorant and other essential products.
A total of 30 shelters distribute the kits to clients, including Anawim House, Sandy Merriman House, Our Place, Rainbow Kitchen, the Mustard Seed and others.
“Feeling good about oneself is a great gift. Being clean contributes to how we feel and is good for our health,” said Anne McIntyre, executive director of Disaster Aid Canada.
“These hygiene kits are very appreciated, and we have received many notes from people thanking us for keeping them clean. “
The Soap for Hope program collects partially used soap and shampoo products from hotels. In the past, the products would have to be thrown out and end up in the landfill.
The program re-processes the soap and repackages the unused shampoo. The recycled products are distributed locally or sent to needy recipients around the world.
A monthly donation of $25 will provide five people relying on a local shelter with the hygiene products they need each month. Donations can be made by searching for Disaster Aid Canada at canadahelps.org or over the phone 778-265-8821.
Go to facebook.com/ SoapForHope.DAC.
Run raises awareness of Huntington disease
Becka Pottery will be taking her passion to the streets today with a charity run she’s organizing to support the Huntington Society of Canada.
The month of May is Huntington Disease Awareness Month. All through the month, volunteers are hard at work raising awareness about Huntington disease, a rare genetic disorder that causes brain cells to die.
“The more that people know about Huntington disease, the more money that will be funnelled in for it,” said Pottery, 27. “I believe that creating more awareness will help toward finding a cure or some sort of help for those who suffer from Huntington disease.”
A person with the disease becomes less able to control movements, recall events, make decisions and control emotions. The disease leads to incapacitation and, eventually, death.
Huntington disease is an inherited, debilitating brain disorder that is fatal and incurable. About one in 7,000 Canadians have the disease and approximately one in 5,500 is at risk of developing the disease.
Registration is $30 for either five or 10-kilometre events takes place at 10 a.m. A welcome ceremony takes pace at 10:45 with the run starting at 11 a.m. An awards ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. All events take place at Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park in Saanich.
Go to huntingtonsociety.ca.
Teens work for positive change at camp
More than 80 middle and high school students joined 17 teachers and nine police officers at this year’s Youth for Change and Inclusion camp, which ran last week at Camp Pringle, on the shores of Shawnigan Lake.
“Youth for Change and Inclusion camp is about youth getting together for positive change in our communities,” said Sgt. Paul Brookes, Victoria Police Department member and camp co-founder. “This camp helps youth come together with experts from around the world who can speak with them about the issues that face us all.”
This was the 14th year of the event, which welcomed participants from Victoria, Saanich, Vancouver, Ladysmith and Nanaimo. More than 1,000 youth have attended the camp over the past 13 years.
The camp is made possible by financial support from the Victoria Police Department, Coast Capital Savings and Victoria School District 61.
This year’s speakers included residential-schools survivor Anne Tenning; David Katz, Plastic Bank CEO; Darren Laur, chief learning officer of Internet and Social Media Safety; Del Manak, acting chief of the Victoria Police Department; Dave Dickson speaking about homelessness; Moussa Magassa speaking about social transformation and peacebuilding, along with other presenters.
Go to vicpd.ca.
Alzheimer’s is focus of walk
Consider taking part in this year’s Walk for Alzheimer’s, which takes place today from Harbour Towers Hotel and Suites.
The 1.5- or 2.5-kilometre walk is Canada’s biggest fundraiser for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Last year, thousands of walkers raised $4.7 million to support local programs and services for Canadians living with dementia.
Today’s walk is one of 150 in communities across Canada.
When you walk, you send a message of hope to the more than 564,000 Canadians currently living with dementia — and the thousands of loved ones who care for them.
Registration is at 9 a.m., a ceremony takes place at 10, with the walk starting at 10:30 a.m. from Harbour Towers Hotel and Suites, 345 Quebec St. People can walk either indoors or out. Pets are welcome on the outside walk.
For more information, go to alzheimer.ca.
Go for a hike for hospice
Hundreds of Victorians are expected to join Victoria Hospice to mark the beginning of National Hospice Palliative Care Week today at Fisherman’s Wharf.
Victoria is one of more than 60 cities across Canada hosting fundraising walks to raise critical funds and awareness for hospice palliative care.
Participants hike in memory of a loved one.
“Hike for Hospice really is a chance to step up and celebrate the loved ones we’ve lost,” said participant Marion Pape. She walks in honour of her late husband Manfred, who died in 2013. It has become a celebratory annual tradition for her multi-generational family and friends.
Registration is available right up until the hike starts, with donations accepted until the end of the month.
The festivities kick off at 9 a.m. with a high-energy performance by local Celtic band Cookeilidh. The hike starts at 10 a.m.
People of all ages and abilities will trek an accessible, scenic 3.5-kilometre loop from the Inner Harbour to the ocean and back again.
People who bring along four-legged friends have a chance to win the Best Dressed Dog Award.
Proceeds from the event go to Victoria Hospice, a registered charity that depends on community support for almost half of its operating costs.
For more information, go to victoriahospice.org/events/ 6th-annual-hike-hospice.
Research needed on disabling disease
May is International Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Awareness Month, with May 12 International Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Awareness Day.
In Canada about 800,000 people suffer from this disease, which can present with many symptoms, including immune and neurological dysfunction, profound disabling fatigue, post-exertional malaise, cognitive impairment and many others.
It is an invisible illness, with people suffering for many years. It occurs in young children through to the elderly. There is no cure.
Research has yet to find a cause for ME, although slowly, at last, some positive findings are surfacing.
There is an ME society in Victoria. Go to mevictoria.ca.
Nominate an outstanding fundraiser
Nominations are being accepted to recognize outstanding citizens with a prestigious award from the largest international professional fundraisers’ association on National Philanthropy Day.
This year, the Vancouver Island Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals hosts the 18th Annual National Philanthropy Day celebrations in Victoria.
This is a day set aside to recognize the great contributions of philanthropy — and the people, businesses and organizations active in the philanthropic community.
Last year, 50,000 people in more than 125 communities participated in National Philanthropy Day celebrations around the world.
People are asked to nominate a generous business, volunteer, youth group or service club that deserves to be recognized.
Awards will be distributed at the National Philanthropy Day Celebration, Nov. 22. The award categories are:
• Generosity of Spirit Award
• Outstanding Fundraising Volunteer Award
• Outstanding Philanthropic Service Club
• Corporate Responsibility Award
• Youth in Philanthropy Award, ages five to 10
• Youth in Philanthropy Award, ages 11 to 18
More information and nomination forms are available at npdvictoria.com. The closing date for nominations is May 26.
Alexa’s Team nabs impaired drivers
A program that recognizes dedicated police officers throughout the province who work diligently to reduce the number of drivers on the road impaired by alcohol or drugs has grown to more than 2,000 members.
Alexa’s Team is named for Alexa Middelaer, who was killed by an alcohol-impaired driver in 2008, while feeding a horse with her aunt in Delta.
Since its inception, the team has grown from 26 to more than 2,000 RCMP and municipal police officers from all regions of British Columbia.
Alexa’s Team and provincial anti-impaired-driving police initiatives are supported by Alexa’s Bus, the province’s mobile road-safety unit.
The bus has been deployed 262 times in communities around the province since its launch in 2014 as an education and enforcement tool, helping police educate British Columbians about road safety, and removing impaired drivers from the road at the scene.
MADD Canada, ICBC, the RCMP and supporters of Alexa’s Team are gathering at events held in Metro Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna and Prince George to recognize those officers named to the 2016 Alexa’s Team.
Officers are personally thanked by Alexa’s family and community leaders for their tireless work fighting impaired driving.
