MINDS IN MOTION KW WALKING CLASSIC SEPT. 23
Walking - a step toward good mental health
Walking - a step toward good mental health
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By Carrie DebroneKitchener Citizen
September 13, 2012
Walking is a pleasurable fitness activity for many people, but it can also help some people to recover from and manage their mental illness.
Although research has now shown walking can help people with some mental illnesses, twelve years ago Dave and Sue Lewis discovered for themselves that walking helped their son to manage challenges related to his mental health.
“We had no experience with mental health issues and we were totally unprepared for his mental illness. As the situation evolved, we saw a positive connection between walking and calming him down. It made him feel in control again,” Lewis said.
“When his symptoms began to escalate if we could get him out the door, then it would help to walk with him. We just stumbled on it as a way to help him. It just sort of happened,” he said of his family’s discovery of the great benefit of walking.
Over the next five challenging years the family struggled to find opportunities to do things together. Outings were planned so that one person would always remain home with their son.
Again, walking came to the rescue.
“It was one way that the whole family could be together and do something we all liked to do,” Lewis said.
Both Dave and his wife, Sue, who had been very active runners, eventually became interested in competitive walking and now lead community walking groups.
They have also become personal trainers for people
interested in learning power walking techniques starting
their own personal training business called Walk on Strong.
The Lewis’s continue to lead 5-6K free walks Saturdays
at 8 and 9am at Waterloo Square and Tuesdays at 6:30pm.
They are open to anyone who would like to participate.
Seeing how transformative walking was in their son’s life, five years ago Dave and Sue, with the help of others who had a connection to the cause, planned and organized the first Minds in Motion KW Walking Classic.
In association with Waterloo Regional Homes for Mental Health all funds pledged and donated for the event are used to equip people facing serious mental health challenges and on a limited budget, with proper fitting athletic shoes.
Now any local social service agency that runs fitness programs can apply for shoes for its members.
“It can be very motivating to people who can’t afford high end shoes,” said Dave, adding that exercise including walking is essential for people with mental health problems because they are more susceptible to other physical illnesses, including diabetes.
The walk remains the only competitive walking race of its’ kind in Canada. Since its inception, the event has raised over $70,000 and given away 500 pairs of shoes. Beginning with about 325 walkers in its first year (2008), last year’s walk attracted over 950 participants.
This year Lewis, who remains event co-chair, is expecting over 1,000 walkers and more than 100 people have volunteered to help on walk day.
Lewis said the event has also helped de-stigmatize mental illness – something that will affect one in every five people in Canada during their lifetime.
This year’s Minds in Motion KW Walking Classic will take place Sunday, Sept. 23 at the Waterloo Public Square, 75 King Street South in Waterloo. The event includes a half-marathon route, as well as 10K and 5K routes. The all-inclusive event welcomes recreational and competitive walkers.
“The atmosphere at the walk is exciting and inspirational,” Lewis said.
To participate or for more information visit www.kwwalkingclassic.com
Dave Lewis (left) and Susan Lewis (right) co-chairs of the Minds in Motion KW Walking Classic that will take place Sept. 23 stand with Nigel Strothard, owner of Athletic Direct in Kitchener. Nigel’s store supplies and fits the athletic shoes that are donated to people facing serious mental health challenges using funds raised from the walking event.