Crossing the Canyon for Mental Health

Six “Plus 60” individuals from the Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren Church in Winnipeg hiked through the Grand Canyon on September 14-18 and raised funds for Eden Health Care Services.  The hikers carried their own food, water and other essentials for the 4 day hike through the Canyon, navigating uneven terrain in hot weather with backpack loads of 14 – 22 kilograms. The Grand Canyon of the Colorado River is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and the difference of elevation from the North Rim to the bottom is more than one mile.  

The members of the hike are Anne and Jerry Friesen, Dave Loewen, John Janzen, John Pankratz and John Unger.  Grace and Bill Martens, Grace Loewen, Ruth Janzen, Pat Pankratz and Merril Unger made the trip with the hikers as their support team.

Members of the team are going to be telling their story and what motivated them to want to take on such a demanding task.  They’re going to be telling their stories in Steinbach on October 17^th at the Pat Porter Active Living Centre and again in Winkler on October 24^th at the Winkler Mennonite Church.  Pick up your ticket at Eden Health Care Services Office in Winkler or at the Pat Porter Active Living Centre in Steinbach or by calling 1-866-895-2919.

The Lecture Series for 2013

How do people of faith talk about suicide?  For most, the subject material is uncomfortable.  Eden Health Care Services is offering a full day seminar entitled "Suicide, Faith and Spirituality, Toward a Fuller Understanding".  The featured speakers are Chris Summerville, the Executive Director of Manitoba Schizophrenia Society and Tim Wall of Klinic Community Health Centre and who is the Executive Director of the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention.  Other presenters will include representatives of the faith community including native spirituality.

Mental health and a number of unfortunate incidents have been the focus of our collective attention over the past year.  To talk about the underlying causes is helpful in being able to increase the potential for everyone to be able to positively influence those around us who may be in need of our assistance.

In dealing with the issues, the Eden Health Care Services Lecture Series will be bring the faith perspective into the discussion from someone who has had lived experience of dealing with a family members death by suicide, from clinicians who in the course of their work deal with survivors and from spiritual leaders in our community who deal with families who have lost loved ones.

The Lecture Series "Suicide, Faith and Spirituality" is open to those who would benefit from information and support in dealing with mental health issues generally and suicide specifically.  Eden Health Care Services encourages pastors, leaders, care-givers and all interested to attend the seminar.

"Suicide, Faith and Spirituality, Toward a Fuller Understanding" is scheduled for Thursday October 17th at the Access Event Centre, 111 Gilmour Street in Morden, MB.  Registration is $80 per person.  Plan to attend the whole day.  Your registration includes lunch and refreshment breaks.

For more information contact:

Eden Health Care Services
Box 129, Winkler, MB
204-325-5355 / 1-866-895-2919

Registration Form

Or

Register Online

Head for the Hills

Registering for our 11^th annual bike event in support of the mental health recovery programs of Eden Health Care Services.  We hope this event will be an occasion to celebrate mental and physical health.  There are two tracks to take in this event.  One is described a little further down in this post and the other track is to take a road course from Colert Beach to the barbeque site.  Both courses are well marked and intersect with each other at two different refreshment stops along the way. 

One in four Manitobans will be directly affected by a serious mental health concern in their lifetime and statistics indicate that only 1/3 will seek help.

The pledges raised from the bike ride will go to support the mental health programs of Eden including supported housing and employment programs for individuals dealing with significant mental health issues.  Subsidized counselling services through Recovery of Hope helps individuals and families on lower incomes, access needed support.  The good news is that with the right supports and services, individuals can recover from mental illness.  This year we especially want to support badly needed renovations to Enns Courts in Winkler and Wilson Courts in Steinbach.

Your participation in this biking fundraiser can help us maintain this valuable service, restoring hope and healing in people's lives.

September 7^th, 2013       9:00 a.m start

Registration Time: 8:00 - 8:30 a.m. at Colert Beach (west of Morden)

Barbeque at noon followed by prize awards

How do I collect pledges?

1.  Circulate the sponsor pledge sheet among your friends and acquaintances.
2. Check the online registration and donation tool at www.edenhealthcare.ca.
3. Let sponsors know that any contribution of $10 or more will be receipted by our office.
4. We request a minimum of $100 in donations from each rider.
5. It may be helpful to place your larger contributors at the top of your list so others are challenged to "meet or beat" that contribution.
6. Be prepared to let supporters know the cause their contribution is going toward.
7. Cheques should be made out to the Eden Foundation.
8. You and your co-workers, together with your employer may choose to register a corporate team.  Call (204) 325-5355 for details.
9. Try to collect all the pledges and bring them to the event on September 7^th or hand them in before the ride at the Eden Health Care office, 309 Main Street, Winkler

• Your $20 registration fee helps cover the cost of T-shirt, prizes, refreshments and barbeque.

• Prize for the top fund raiser – bicycle donated by Tinker Creek Cycle and Wiebe’s Trenching

• Draw for Bicycle #2 – Fundraisers from $,1000 and up donated by Back Alley Cycle, Altona

• Draw for Bicycle #3 – Fundraisers from $100 - $1,000

• Challenge for group participation, (e.g. youth groups, work place, friends), combine your efforts and the group with the highest amount of pledges will be awarded the Head for the Hills Trophy

• Many other prizes given away and your participation makes you eligible.

What Can I Expect on the ride?

Join us for a 32 km. group ride along the Trans Canada Trail Southwest of Morden and Winkler.  The trail starts at Colert Beach west of Morden, skirts Lake Minnewasta and climbs the north shore connecting with the Stanley Trail.  After crossing the Dead Horse Creek, the trail climbs to the south, out of the valley and into a wooded, rolling single-track for several kilometres with open views of the valley.  
Leaving the single-track, (1^st rest stop) the trail follows quiet dirt and gravel roads past undulating farmland and marshes.  After 7 miles, the trail enters a pasture road that climbs the escarpment, (2^nd rest stop) winding through grassland on the edge of oak stands, passing an old Mennonite cemetery.  

This leads to the final section of trail which is entirely wooded single-track through oak and poplar stands along the creeks of the Pembina escarpment.  This portion of the ride offers physically challenging climbs and descents as well as incredible scenery along the route.  

The colours can be quite breathtaking this time of year.  Note that there are 2 rest stops along the way including refreshments and port-a-potties as well as a “sag wagon” to pick you up if needed.   

Alternate road route options take you along rolling country roads. Trained volunteers are also on hand to provide first aid and technical support if needed.  

We finish 2 miles from the US border on a hill overlooking the Red River Valley.  There will be a shelter provided for you to relax under as we wait for all riders to complete.  The barbeque will begin once all riders arrive at noon with the awards presentations right after.  You and your bike will then be transported back to the starting area at Colert Beach by mid afternoon.

Join Us!

Sponsor a Rider

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Registration Form