To mark World Mental Health Day, group members will be travelling to Great Canadian Bungee in Quebec on Sept. 11
NEWS RELEASE
WTF LADIES
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The WTF Ladies grew from a group of women who rallied around one of their own who has been battling Stage 4 breast cancer.
Although her cancer has now become metastatic, Hannah McEdwards has turned to each of us, said “hold my beer” and has had us all do some wild and crazy adventures.
Celebrating her five-year “cancer-versary,” Skydiving Wasaga Beach welcomed 10 of us as we jumped 14,000 feet over the world’s longest freshwater beach.
There have been wine tours, white water rafting and for her 10-year anniversary, funds were raised for the breast cancer ultrasound unit at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto as we put 10 toes over Toronto with the CN Edgewalk.
In light of the recent Walkerton tragedy involving the four students and teacher from Walkerton District Secondary School, the WTF Ladies rallied around the kids to sponsor a prize for one of the raffle draws at the inaugural Hoops for Hope in memory of Olivia Rourke, who was one of the students who lost their life in a car accident.
Having said that, the WTF Ladies have taken it upon ourselves to also rally around one of our own with the revived Ice Bucket Challenge raising funds for youth mental health.
Stephanie and Art Davenport have experienced first-hand the effects of youth mental health when their own daughter was enrolled in your program, but tragically lost her battle to suicide five years ago.
Here’s what Steph wrote:
“Mental health, I believe, touches every family, except some families who must live with the tragedy from mental health. In 2020, our family suffered the loss of our 19-year-old daughter, Nyah-Lea, to suicide. Although it has been four-and-a-half years (five in December), she battled mental health since at least 2015.
“Many days, we, collectively, came up against the mental health voice in her mind that fed her lies about so many things. We fought hard to find her the help that would be her avenue to living. We advocated. We prayed. She battled. She tried daily to get her mind healthy, but the suffering she endured, mentally, took a toll in every aspect of her life. But the effects of mental health were so strong and she, I believe, went down a pathway to rid herself of the pain.
“The medical system to treat mental health needs improvement, BUT the stigma associated with mental health needs to annihilated. When people find out how our daughter passed, I am not shy to tell them. If I avoid the issue, how will the stigma around mental health stop?
“Our mental health has suffered over the years, too. I hurt in my heart and mind and I can not imagine how she hurt daily.
“Young people in our country and around the world are facing a mental health crises daily. We want to advocate, support, lend our voice that our youth are worth the hard work they put in, the financial support by family, friends and our medical people.
“Battling mental health is hard and it is daily. It is not for the weak of heart or mind.”
The WTF Ladies have decided we would add a twist to the whole Ice Bucket Challenge as we are looking to raise funds for youth mental health, in honour of Nyah, by undertaking the ultimate adrenalin rush — bungee jumping!
Marking World Mental Health Day on Sept. 10, we will be travelling to Great Canadian Bungee in Chelsea, Que., strap that famous elastic around our ankles or waist, yell “Geronimo” and on Sept. 11, drop 200 feet to the lagoon below.
Steph, who is petrified of heights, and her daughter, Carly, will take front and centre by being the first in line, participating in memory of a beloved daughter and sister.
In true WTF Ladies fashion, our efforts will be focused on raising funds for the Simcoe Muskoka Regional Child and Youth Mental Health Services in Barrie, in memory of Nyah and to all young people who endure their own mental health struggles.
Supporters can donate to our latest adventure by clicking here and keep updated on our efforts on our Facebook page – WTF Ladies Adventures.
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