Christina & Jamie 1973
I know it’s not August 6th yet, but this just couldn’t wait. If you’ve been following my blog for the past 5 years, you’d know that August 6th is an extreemly important date for me. I call it a Celebration of Life Day, in honor of my big brother, James’, birthday. 5 years ago my brother passed away. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about him. But I made the promise that from here on out I would celebrate is birthday and not the day he passed. And on his birthday, I also made a promise to myself, that I will do everything I can to get the word out and support Mental Illness Awarenesses. Even if Mental Illness doesn’t directly affect you, it affects everyone around you. The one thing I ask you to do is not to judge anyone, as you don’t know their story, and you’ve never walked in their shoes. And at the end of the day, tell the ones you love the most how important they are to you.
With this years celebration, I wanted to share an amazing campaign that everyone can get involved in!
Calgary Entrepreneurs Put a Colorful Spin on Mental Illness Awareness ~ $25,000 fundraising campaign to raise awareness for mental illness gearing up
Calgary small business entrepreneurs are showing up with generosity, compassion and willingness to advocate and open up the conversation around mental illness.
On Tuesday July 31st, three Calgary entrepreneurs are creating a sea of blue. A mental health advocate, blogger behind the popular website SimpLeeSerene.com, and the founder of Going Blue 4 U, Lee Horbachewski is on a mission to put a colorful spin on the blues. To build a bigger and better 2nd annual campaign, a fundraising campaign created on Calgary’s own Katipult.com is gaining momentum.
Catherine Tkach of Cat’s Eye Vintage & More and Karri Egan of The Hot Yoga Lounge are working with Horbachewski, to create a sea of blue.
Cat’s Eye Vintage & More will be hosting a BLUE Sale event from 2:00pm – 6:00 p.m., with 20% off everything in the store and 20% being donated to GB4U. Snacks, entertainment, and a table featuring BLUESock Dolls, created by Horbachewski’s 12 year old daughter and her friend will be available.
The Hot Yoga Lounge will be hosting a BLUE Glow Yoga in the Dark event at 7:30 p.m., yogis will be getting bendy in the dark. Well not completely in the dark, they will be glowing. Glowing BLUE. A minimum $5 donation will be donated to Going Blue 4 U.
Other entrepreneurs have been making blue waves with campaigns, and initiatives to raise funds and create conversation for mental illness.
Kim Page Gluckie of MPowered Marketing shared this masterful insight: Going Blue 4 U: A Philanthropic Study in Success. Susanne Alexander-Heaton, author of ABC Field Guide to Faeries is donating 40% of all online book sales. Linda Kiernan, created a SOLD out private screening of I AM at Self Connection Books on Sunday July 22, 2012 in 3 days, raising $590.00. Robin Havlicek of RAD Printing created TRUST banners, creating a visual display of support and trusting in GB4U. Robin has also committed to dyeing her hair blue if the $25,000 is raised by August 15th. Jaclyn Olsen of Diffusion Solutions has created a Dream Big – Believe in Better Series event with her donations as a speaker benefiting GB4U. If Jaclyn’s friends donate $1000 by August 15th she will dye a strip of her hair blue.
“I’m thrilled to say that $3,838 has bee raised to date and we have met our first milestone of producing a video by Calgary based storystudio.tv which will be key in spreading this life-saving message” says Horbachewski. “We are off to a great start, but additional funds are required to ensure the success of the 2012 campaign.”
Mental Illness impacts 1 in 5 Canadians (20% of the population)
- According to the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 43.3% of Albertans believe depression is a weakness.
- Age with the highest rate of depression symptoms: Under 20 years of age
- Every 4 minutes, a call for help is received, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at Distress Centre
About Going Blue 4 U
Launched each year in conjunction with Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW), this year September 30th – October 6, 2012, we will create a sea of blue, for everyday people affected by mental illness and suicide. By providing resources and avenues for inspiration and empowerment, GB4U is armed with the vision of encouraging people to reach out and ask for help, thereby realizing they are not alone.
About Lee Horbachewski
Lee Horbachewski is an author, speaker and certified coach with a deep passion for serving and empowering others to shine bright and steady. Lee has been featured on Global TV, CTV, ET Canada, The Calgary Herald, and MetroNews. She was featured as one of Mompreneur Magazine’s (2009) top 5 Mompreneurs in Canada and is a spokesperson for the Distress Centre in Calgary and the founder of Going Blue 4 U. To see her full story click here for the video.
Bonus Code is Jamie.
Hello Christine,
- Marilyn ThrasherI just read your blog and I dont want to assume anything but did your brother die from mental illness..if so im so sorry for your loss either way but esp mental illness. I know a lot about mental illness. I actually took the govt on in Ontario to keep Fame open…Fame is a place for family members wo get together in group setting for support. The govt was going to close it. They kept it open. Also I have a son who later in life was diagnosed with mental illness. He is out of hopsital ow but in group home..
IM also the lady who got into a spat with you over gossip LOL and for that im sorry. But like this subject, there is so many important things in life than movie stars etc. Anyyway hope this clears the air.
thanks
Marilyn
Kudos to you, Christina!! That you have used a tragedy in your life to bring awareness to an illness that impacts so many, yet is hidden by so many. I have fought depression for years, successfully, I think
Obviously some days are better or worse than others. But I’m not afraid to talk about it, to tell people about it. If they want to judge me, that’s their problem. I’m not going to hide it…by hiding it, I believe I would be contributing to the inaccurate perception that it means I am weak. In fact, I would say the opposite. People who battle mental illness are strong…incredibly strong! To the 80% not suffering from mental illness….can you imagine waking up every morning and wanting to just stay in bed? To be exhausted most of the time, suffer from inexplicable pains, etc. That is reality for many people. But many of us know we have to get past that….we fight every day to be an active part of our families, to go to work, to go to the grocery store. That is the epitome of strength…in my opinion.
My child has recently been diagnosed with ADHD…another mental illness that has so many stigmas attached to it. Must be bad parenting, it’s just a “made up” condition, etc. etc. Her life is already going to be challenging…why make it even more so by judging her for something that is beyond her control?
My wish is that one day, rather than choosing to judge what we don’t understand, we would instead try to educate ourselves and most importantly show compassion.
- NatalieWhat a fantastic way to honour your brothers life and to bring awareness to the issue of mental health. Good for you sharing your story with us. Thank you!
- MarieYour Brother is looking down, and saying,
- shirley Burchillway to go sis.I went to an event on Sunday and met Lee Horbachewski,and watched the movie.I am, it was amazing.
Cheers
Shirley.
You are a wonderful, loving sister – and you are doing an amazing thing. Remembering his birthday is better than the day of passing – I’ve never understood that.
I could not agree more about not judging either. You are a wise person!
Take care!
- Janie