A young Owen Sound woman is doing a triathlon to raise $10,000 for child and youth mental health services at the hospital in Owen Sound.
A release from the Owen Sound Regional Hospital Foundation says during her teens, Olivia Duwyn suffered from severe depression and anxiety.
In a statment, Duwyn who is currently a student at Western University who plans to pursue a career as a social worker, says she knows first-hand how important local hospital services are for children and youth.
She wants the money she raises to go to adolescent mental health beds, saying they have helped save her life numerous times during suicide attempts, “I know that when I was admitted here I would be safe and well taken care of,” says Duwyn.
On Friday October 30th, after raising $1,000 Duwyn completed a one kilometre swim in open water in just under half an hour at Sauble Beac. Her mother, brother, and grandmother were there cheering her on.
Following that, to mark the achievement of her $2,500 goal on Tuesday, November 3rd Duwyn and her grandfather Don Wilkinson did a 25 km bike ride around Owen Sound.
Now that $4,200 has been raised, Duwyn will take on the most difficult part of her triathlon—running a 42.2 kilometre marathon.
Her goal is to raise $10,000. As of Wednesday, November 4th, just over $6,000 was raised.
In a statement, Duwyn says, “I find that physical activity has helped me to manage my mental health, whenever I am feeling down or stressed or anxious I will go for a run, or hop in the pool for an hour, or get on my bike and ride as fast as I can until I feel better.” She adds, “Exercise is great way for me to get my emotions in check so that I can face a situation with a clear head.”
On her hospital foundation fundraising page, Duwyn says, “Mental health is a difficult subject, which should definitely not be the case because 1 in 4 people report struggling with their mental health. Talking is the best way to eliminate this stigma,” she adds, “Just because no one else can heal or do your inner work for you, doesn’t mean you can, should, or need to do it alone.”
Donations can be made on the Owen Sound Regional Hospital Foundation Website or you can call 519-372-3925.