The first ever ‘Run For Change’ event took place Saturday, bringing dozens of people together for a morning of running and walking to raise awareness for mental health and addictions.
“What I wanted to do is to kind of raise awareness on mental health and addictions and get the community involved,” said organizer Amanda Lambert.
People lined up at the Roberta Bondar Pavilion in order to either run or walk the five kilometre route along the boardwalk down to the locks.
Lambert opened her own business, Strong Minds, last March following a stint as a mental health unit worker at Sault Area Hospital.
“I opened up my own business because I really want psychiatrists and physicians to prescribe exercise as medicine,” Lambert said. “I believe that fitness-based treatment can help, and I believe that personal trainers have a lot to give for people’s circle of care.”
She says that she’d like to see Run For Change become an annual event.
“Everyone has their journey and their story,” said Lambert. “It’s really important to stop the stigma, to learn together and be educated.”
All proceeds from the event will be donated to Sault Area Hospital's mental health unit and the YMCA Strong Kids campaign.