Spencer Noble began struggling with anxiety in Grade 11 and felt more stressed when she reached Grade 12, especially as her graduation date approached.
“It was tough for me to find out, like, who I was,” she said. “I felt like I had continuing anxiety all the time because I felt like I didn’t know what I was doing or who I was.
“I felt like I had too much on my plate and literally didn’t know how to relax. And that was the problem because I didn’t know how to do self-care.”
Noble, 18, began running, walking and exercising to reduce her stress. She also began talking with family and friends about her struggles. Today the second-year nursing student is doing well mentally and has learned to control her anxiety. She thinks positively since that also helps her.
To show her appreciation for the support she received, Noble is holding a walk/run fundraiser for mental health in conjunction with the Friends of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). The event takes place Sunday, Aug. 18 at Spring Creek Park, which is bordered between Ninth Avenue Northwest and Thatcher Drive, and Simcoe Street and Normandy Drive.
Registration takes place at 7:30 p.m. and the run/walk commences at 7:45 p.m. The event is expected to finish by 9 p.m. Participants will meet at the park on the south side by the mailboxes, close to Simcoe and 11th Avenue.
There is no registration fee, but donations are accepted. Income tax receipts will be issued for donations over $10. For advance registration or more information, email [email protected] or text 306-690-8246. If you are unable to attend but would like to donate, contact the CMHA Moose Jaw branch at 306-692-4240.
Participants are encouraged to either leave their phones behind or turn them off while participating since it’s healthy to be in the present moment.
“We’re really happy that she gave us a call to bring awareness of mental health in the community … . We’re really excited about (this) event,” Nema Atsu, CMHA branch director in Moose Jaw, said, adding all funds raised will go to the branch’s peer-support program.
“I think it’s awesome that young people are getting involved and trying ot spread word about mental health and mental illness recovery, that the young people care about the issue and want to do something about it.”
Noble also wants residents to join her at Starbucks on Main Street a week before the walk/run, on Sunday, Aug. 11 from 5 to 10 p.m., to participate in an uplifting activity. Residents are encouraged to come create kindness notes with quotes or pictures that will cheer up people suffering from mental illnesses, or posters that address mental health awareness.
These notes and posters will be hung up at the mental health run/walk fundraiser at Spring Creek Park.
Noble believes Moose Jaw needs more support to address mental illness and improve mental health. Many of her friends and family have talked to her about their struggles, while she knows there are many more affected in the community. She also works at Pioneer Lodge and deals with people suffering from dementia, which she noted is a type of mental illness.
“It seems like everyone around me is just dealing with their own struggles,” she continued, adding she believes this run is needed to generate awareness, to raise money for the CMHA and to create more conversations.
Noble began developing the idea for a walk/run for mental health in April and then finally decided to go all-in around late May. Her family is supportive of this endeavour and plans to help set up the site. They have even purchased mental health T-shirts to wear during the run.
Her friends are also promoting this event on social media.
“Everyone seems to like it,” she added.
