The City of St. John’s and the people of Newfoundland and Labrador generally have long supported women’s mental health initiatives.
Plenty of that support will be on display on Sunday, June 24 when the third Shoppers Love. You. Run for Women will be held at Quidi Vidi Lake.
“This event is perfect as it focuses squarely on our mission, so when Shopper’s approached us with the project, it was easy to get involved,’’ Lisa Browne, CEO of Stella’s Circle said.
“There will be more than 1,000 people there on Sunday, promoting physical and mental health, everyone’s health. We are looking at the entire person,’’ she added, saying the Shoppers program has made an impact on the Stella’s Circle organization.
A number of programs will benefit from the funds raised during this event, including the women’s mental health programs at Stella’s Circle, the Naomi Centre emergency shelter for young women, and the Just Us Women’s Centre which works with criminalized women in the community and in the Correctional Centre for Women in Clarenville.
Browne said the Naomi Centre offers women ages 16-29 programs that help them progress in their lives, things like how to identify and avoid sexual exploitation.
“Our focus is on women’s health,’’ Bob Fearon, district manager for Shopper’s Drug Mart N.L., said Monday.
“The Run For Women will take place in 17 cities nationwide this year with more than 21,000 participants. St. John’s is the last run.’’
Fearon said this is the third year the event has supported Stella’s Circle, what he called a great community organization.
He said 90 or more representatives from Shoppers are taking part, from the St. John’s area, Gander and Corner Brook.
Fearon said the Run For program is being introduced in high schools across the province and he expects more than 150 students from a dozen schools to attend.
“Exercise and regular running is proven to promote good mental health,” he said.
“As part of our goal it ties everyone together, promotes health and raises awareness of health issues as well.”
The run raised $57,000 in 2017. Stella’s Circle was pleased to be named the benefactor again this year.
There are several programs the Shoppers run supports, including a new running group for Stella’s Circle women participants leading up to the event.
These nine women have met over the past seven weeks of an eight-week training cycle to increase or improve their walking or running capabilities. Each participant was provided with proper running gear, including sneakers fitted at the Running Room.
“The women in our participant running group women have never been part of any kind of team before,” said Amy Sheppard, a social worker and running group leader at the Just Us Women’s Centre.
“It is amazing to see the group members encouraging each other to connect, exercise and improve their mental health in the process. … For a lot of people suffering mental health issues, getting out of bed is a difficult task, let along walking or running.”
The run not only raises money, it also gets people into a caring commusnity, so that if you train with them and all of a sudden you miss a run, someone in the group is going to reach out and find out why.
Browne said the day is also a great family event, in particular for Little Steps participants, which sees moms bring their children and perhaps a grandmother or two, to walk around the lake and promote family interaction.
And as with many running and walking events, participants put their own stamp on their teams events, whether through wearing costumes — some extremely innovative — and team names, which can be equally creative.
Registration growing
The Shoppers Love. You. Run for Women, is organized in partnership with the Running Room. More than 700 people have registered for the Run for Women.
For more information or to register, visit www.runforwomen.ca.
Tuesday, June 19 is the final day to register online. Participants can also register the morning of the walk at Quidi Vidi Lake.
Times and divisions for the event:
When: Sunday, June 24, 2018
Where: Quidi Vidi Lake, starting at the Legion
Times: 8:30 a.m.: 1K Little Steps; 8:55 a.m.: Welcome and warm-up; 9:15 a.m.: 10K start; 9:30 a.m.: 5K start.
