On September 27th, the efforts of two Sabre students culminated in a successful hours-long charity event: Race for Resilience. Gwen Flanagan and Yatra Patel, two Grade 12 students, dedicated months of hard work to organizing and raising funds for the Canadian Mental Health Association of Windsor-Essex, surpassing their goal with a total of $4,287.
Located in Malden Park, this event was a 5 km walk/run, featuring various stations designed to promote and maintain physical and mental health/wellness. These stations included singing in front of a group, climbing the famous Malden Park hill, and more. Prizes for the fastest, most charitable, and most spirited teams were awarded by local sponsors Macro Foods, The Rare Butchery, and Mr. Puffs, respectively.
Flanagan and Patel are rightfully proud of their achievements. Still, when asked by the Post about their feelings on the event, they expressed gratitude to everyone who helped organize the experience.
Flanagan stated, “The execution brought so much joy and excitement to not just Yatra and I, but to everyone who helped us through every step of the way. I am so honoured by their generosity and support.” Patel also discussed the spread of mental health awareness and the impact the event had on the local community, saying, “I hope it started more conversations about mental health in our community, as these conversations contribute to the overall impact of the event.”
Meanwhile, teacher sponsor Mr. Rob Jasey complimented Flanagan and Patel on their hard work, saying, “They performed admirably, and I thoroughly enjoyed assisting them and watching them rise to the occasion, and grow in their knowledge and ability.” The pair certainly faced challenges and exceeded all expectations.
The CMHA Windsor-Essex branch offers specialized programs for people living with serious mental illness through primary care, health promotion, and supportive housing. If you are interested in financially supporting the CMHA, you may visit the donations tab on their website.
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