The 3rd annual March will be unlike previous years,

only due to the increased level of awesomeness.

 

Everyone’s got a Story. Here is our Story: The Winnipeg March for Mental Health…

Years ago, my friend Alice told me she wished there was an event that would share a positive message about mental illness. We met and talked about what an event like that would look and feel like, and connected it to the vision of Inspire, to be created with and for community. There the March was born, to celebrate the story of community.

So many of us experience mental illness, and many of us even struggle with it. This event is for us to come together to share the strengths of who we are, support each other and create awareness of how common mental health concerns are.

We continue to envision a welcoming feeling, inviting those who attend to join with others, find the energy inside to inspire and be inspired by others.

 

Messages like these were spread all over the marching grounds, as messages of hope and inspiration. Because none of us truly walk alone.

Alice and I (Angela) speaking to our community, telling our stories of how we began to embrace our own mental illness.

 

Anxiety. Depression. PTSD. ADD. Trauma. My mental illness does not define me. In fact, I don’t define it as mental illness. On the mental health Continuum, I fluctuate, like everyone else.

Those of you who have challenge, you are a rock star. Let’s inspire each other. Which is how Inspire was named.

 

We are here to celebrate you. Honor you

We are here to celebrate each other.

Inspire exists for our community. And is run by our community.

We serve ALL Families and children. We are allies of every group. Not about acceptance for me. It’s about embracing. Learning. And growing. Together.

 

Having the Costume Alliance of Winnipeg join us, allows us to continue inclusion, fun and child-friendly activity.

 

 

The mental health resource fair and market allows us to have free support resources available and to fund the cost of the park.

 

Volunteers and countless hours of care and passion go into the March. An average of 40 volunteers support the preparation, event and clean-up. This snap-shot captures the connection that we experience of coming together, for the betterment of community and for ourselves.

These first funds allowed us to reach 1000s of children and family members over a year, and gave our small volunteer team the encouragement to continue our work to today.

 

This labor of love is made especially for you.

And this year? Well…you’ll just have to see September 29th!