About 30 kilometres into her 50 kilometre run, Sheila Henry was struggling.
She had begun to suffer stomach problems that would add roughly an hour to her travel time, her ankles were tender, and she was exhausted.
A video clip taken by boyfriend Jamie Cross, who ran the distance with her, showed Henry almost in tears, but still in motion.
鈥淗ow are you doing?鈥� Cross asked.
鈥淚鈥檓 having a hard time,鈥� she replied.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e doing amazing,鈥� he told her.
鈥淚鈥檓 proud of you.鈥�
She wiped her eyes and kept going.
The day after she completed her journey to raise awareness about the overdose crisis and mental health issues, a tired but triumphant Henry told the 91原创 Advance Times that giving up was never an option.
鈥淚t was going to happen even if I have to walk,鈥� she recalled.
She arrived at the finish line about an hour behind schedule, but she finished.
READ MORE: Local mom to run 50km from 91原创 to Vancouver to combat overdose crisis
Henry, a Walnut Grove resident, ran from 91原创 City to Vancouver on Saturday, Oct, 10, World Mental Health Day to 鈥渞aise awareness and to support the fight against stigma of mental health, substance use, and the overdose crisis.鈥�
A nurse who has seen the impact of the drug overdose crisis firsthand, Henry is a single mom who has battled depression and anxiety, as have her two 鈥渋ntelligent, beautiful, amazing, adult daughters.鈥�
She set a fundraising goal of $1,000.
As of Sunday, she had raised more than four times that amount, just over $4,500 on her .
Henry has now set a new goal of $5,000.
鈥淲e鈥檙e so close,鈥� she commented.
Henry was surprised by the attention her campaign to raise funds for the generated.
鈥淚 got donations from people I don鈥檛 even know,鈥� she enthused.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been incredible.鈥�
READ MORE: It鈥檚 been a year since a 91原创 teen died from a suspected overdose, family still awaits charges
Henry began her journey at Innes Corner Plaza in 91原创 City, making stops in Surrey, New Westminster and Burnaby before reaching Strathcona Park in Vancouver (857 Malkin Ave.).
New to running, she had been training since July.
As tired and aching as she was at the end, Henry was pleased that she made it the whole way with no blistered or damaged toenails, injuries that had plagued her while she was training.
And she was grateful a tentative forecast of rain failed to materialize on Saturday.
鈥淚t was amazing,鈥� she said of the weather conditions on the day of the run.
On the Sunday, the day after the run, she got up and took her dogs for a walk.
She doesn鈥檛 think she will do another 50K run any time soon, but some shorter events, such a half-marathon, are a possibility.
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.
To learn more about Henry鈥檚 campaign or to donate visit or visit her Instagram page at .
dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
