Mental Health
A cause near and dear to my heart is mental health. I have been involved with numerous projects and events to fundraise and raise awareness about mental health. Check out some of the great events happening that you can get involved with too!
Click here to read my mental health article that started it all.
Sarah Strong Fundraiser –
The Sarah Strong Fundraiser hosted it’s first event in 2019, a formal dinner with raffle prizes and speakers to benefit the Canadian Mental Health Association and raise awareness about mental health. The namesake of our cause Sarah Ibrahim was a dear friend to myself and the other fundraiser coordinators. To keep up to date on all future events check out our Instagram and website.
Taking Stigma To the Trash –
this event has been held annually (at the end of June) since 2016 at “Garbage Hill” in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It was started by Junel Malapad and he runs a ridiculous amount of miles every year to fundraise for mental health! My sister and I have participate each of the previous two years (18,19) and it’s a great place to stop by and feel empowered and get a great run in. There is a one mile loop that can be ran as many times as you want! This year Junel’s goal is to run 100kms in the day. Besides running they also offer yoga classes on sight throughout the day. You can stay and run as long as you want and there’s tons of great snacks and volunteers (they even cheer when you run by). You can donate online or in person at the event and all info about this year will be posted on their Facebook group.
Ride Don’t Hide –
This event is an annual nationwide bike ride to raise funds for mental health across Canada! Rides take place across the country throughout the month of June. I was an ambassador for the ride in 2018 and in 2020 and it was a great family event suitable for all ages and levels. This event raises money for the Canadian Mental Health Association and you can get involved by riding yourself, being a virtual rider, or create your own team and fundraise. You need to bring your own bike and helmet for this event, but don’t worry it’s not a race. It’s a nice ride through downtown Winnipeg with speakers and snacks and stations at the end to learn more about mental health. Check out their website to find out when registration begins.
Basketball
My first love and a game I will forever be indebted to. I will always try to find ways to give back and promote this great game I love!
Basketball Camps –
You can find info about upcoming camps HERE or under the basketball tab on this website. I am looking to run annual camps, or as often as I can for young girls in middle school and high school to work on their game. The future is bright!
Emily Potter Experience –
This is a program started by Basketball Manitoba that had a huge impact on my life. While home recovering from an injury, a model for visiting kids in school and promoting basketball and sports came to fruition. Last year in the winter and spring I visited over 60 schools to spend the day in the gym with kids from kindergarten to grade 8 and share my passion for the game. I was able to share my journey through sport and tell them how basketball helped make me who I am today! We went over basic skills and played games all involving basketball. The kids probably had more of an impact on me than I did them, but I am so thankful to Basketball Manitoba for the opportunity. This model has since been used for other professional and USport athletes to keep the promotion of the game of basketball going. This program was free for schools to sign up for and I’m looking forward to more opportunities in the future with the Emily Potter Experience.
Follow this link for all the information about this program HERE.
Keep an eye out on Basketball Manitoba and sign up for their newsletter for future sign up dates for this program!