A local nurse is running 50-kilometres from 91原创 City to Vancouver on World Mental Health Day to raise awareness about the overdose crisis during the pandemic.
鈥淚鈥檝e been working with the overdose crisis since 2016, since the emergency was declared,鈥� said Sheila Henry. 鈥淚t changed my life.鈥�
The Walnut Grove resident said it was the number of deaths related to illicit drug overdoses reported by the BC Coroners Service in recent months that led her on this path.
鈥淚t was really profound to me, it struck me,鈥� the 41-year-old said as she fought back tears.
In the first eight months of 2020, the province has already surpassed last year鈥檚 total of illicit drug overdose deaths, according to data released by the BC Coroners Service.
READ MORE: First 8 months of fatal overdoses in B.C. have now exceeded 2019 death toll
Just shy of 150 people fatally overdosed in August, or roughly nine people every two days, bringing the total since January to 1,068 deaths, the data indicates.
鈥淚 wanted to do something that garnered attention, something I could be proud of and something not a lot of people do,鈥� Henry said about deciding to run the marathon.
On Saturday, Oct. 10 Henry will be running from 91原创 to Vancouver in an effort to raise awareness and funds to benefit the .
鈥淚 really like what they鈥檙e about鈥� it really fits with how I feel about so many things in regards to the overdose crisis, and health, and how public health can have a role and take action,鈥� Henry explained about donating to the foundation.
READ MORE: It鈥檚 been a year since a 91原创 teen died from a suspected overdose, family still awaits charges
As of Friday afternoon, Henry had raised more than $3,500 dollars on her .
鈥淎 lot of people conflate addiction and the overdoes crisis with homelessness or poverty, which isn鈥檛 actually the big picture 鈥� it is part of it,鈥� she explained.
Henry will begin her marathon at Innes Corner Plaza in 91原创 City (20399 Fraser Hwy.) at 8 a.m. Saturday, making stops in Surrey, New Westminster and Burnaby before reaching Strathcona Park in Vancouver (857 Malkin Ave.) before 4 p.m. 鈥� she hopes.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited. It鈥檚 been so emotional the last couple of weeks since I鈥檝e launched my fundraiser online. I鈥檝e cried so much in appreciation鈥� it鈥檚 been so beautiful,鈥� she said ahead of the big day.
But Henry said she is new to running and it鈥檚 her boyfriend Jamie Cross, 48, who is the athlete.
In July the pair started training for Henry鈥檚 marathon.
鈥淓verything I鈥檝e ever done for running has been for myself鈥� watching her do this challenge has nothing to do with herself,鈥� Cross noted about Henry鈥檚 compassion and selflessness.
鈥淚鈥檓 a completely different man because of the way she loves,鈥� he said.
READ MORE: Some B.C. nurses given green light to prescribe safe drugs amid overdose spike
The BCCDC Foundation for Public Health aims to raise $30,000 before the end of the year to support programs across the province that are working to combat the overdose crisis, according to Kristy Kerr, executive director of the foundation.
鈥淣ot only is [Shelia] raising awareness鈥� she鈥檚 helping us reach our target,鈥� Kerr said.
Henry, a single mom, said she and her family have also personally struggled with mental health.
鈥淚 have two intelligent, beautiful, amazing, adult daughters鈥� My eldest daughter, Kisa, fought depression and self-harm tendencies from a young age and she was eventually diagnosed with bipolar mood disorder,鈥� Henry noted on her fundraising page.
鈥淢y youngest daughter, Tayla, had difficulties with anxiety and at 13 had a brain hemorrhage and required an emergency life saving craniotomy. Afterwards, she needed rehabilitation therapy for a year and had the added challenge of depression.鈥�
鈥淢y daughters are going to be my crew [on Saturday],鈥� Henry said.
To learn more about Henry鈥檚 campaign or to donate visit .
For updates on her marathon visit her Instagram page at .
joti.grewal@blackpress.ca
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