Canadian Mental Health Association
Prince Albert Branch

MONTHLY ARTICLE

November 2002 100 MILE RUN TO RAISE MONEY FOR CMHA The Canadian Mental Health Association is always devising innovative ways for fundraising but the President of the local board, Stephen Serenelli, might have come up with the most unique yet. He is going to do a 100 mile ultra marathon run and collect pledges for the local branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association. When Stephen originally came up with the idea, he was going to do it solo, but already there are runners asking how they can take part. I guess Stephen isn’t the only crazy one. The 100 miles run scheduled for Friday August 22, 2003 is of different nature... it is a run about resistance, stamina, and endurance and not speed... The run will start at Saskatoon City Hall to finish at Prince Albert City Hall. It will start at midnight on a Friday to finish sometime on Saturday afternoon evening. Every participant will have to have a crew for support (family/friends). Some crews will have people running part of the way... some people will run the entire 100 miles. On arrival in Prince Albert the runners will be guests of the Marlboro Inn that will offer them a refreshment, swimming pool and hot tub to cure sore legs. Serenelli will be running the 100 miles because he wants to discover what’s beyond a marathon distance and has organized this event to share the experience with other people that believe that running is a way of life. If you are interested in participating, please contact Stephen Serenelli at 922-1831. He will add your name to the mailing list and will keep you updated. You could also call Greg Sylvester at 763 4447. There is no entry fee... but pledges have to be collected for the Canadian Mental Health Association. This will give value to the effort they will endure and will go to a good cause. When I asked Stephen why he would want to try a 100 mile ultra marathon this is how he replied: "Ultramarathon running and its meaning in today's context appears irrelevant, however unto itself, its value is reflected in the taking of time to express a basic physical instinct. Running stands in perfect contrast to our times, which involves super computers, high-speed airplanes and fast cars. Philosophers and dreamers have always told us that the sum of life is more than possessions and position. Runners understand that physical effort can be a door to self-discovery. It is through the effort of pushing oneself that a person can explore their depth of being. For this reason you are invited to participate and share the experience." The ultramarathon is obviously going to raise money for the Prince Albert Branch of the CMHA. It will as he says, “can be a door to self discovery” for runners but the increased funding will permit the local branch to expand and improve the programs designed for people coping with mental illnesses. Maybe the ultramarathon will help to open doors for our clients. Our clients are trying to make the transition from the hospital wards to the regular society and regular work force. That transition seems like a long distance for the clients and it seems appropriate the run be an ultra-marathon. Neither of those tasks is easy. It also seems appropriate that the runners must have a support crew. They won’t complete the run by themselves. But the clients won’t make the transition by themselves either. They will do it, they just don’t do it on their own. The also need a support crew and the local CMHA branch is part of that crew. And you can be part of that support crew. You could run or you could simply pledge money to one of the runners. It would be much appreciated. Sincerely, Greg Sylvester Program Director

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