Heather Gordon did not let low temperatures, mighty winds, pellet-sized hail and plenty of rain stop her from completing her mission to walk from McTaggart to Weyburn on May 27. Gordon is part of a national steering committee formed by the Mood Disorders Society of Canada, which launched a national campaign and annual event to raise awareness about depression and other mood disorders.
Gordon embarked upon the 15 kilometre walk as part of the inaugural Defeat Depression Campaign, which took place across Canada that day. It was the first time a national event was held in order to bring attention to mental health and mental illness, even though more than one million Canadians suffer with mood disorders.
Gordon received support that cold and rainy day from Tasha Collins, Program Director at the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) in Weyburn, as well as Troy Kramm from the CMHA. They drove the CMHA vehicle as the trail vehicle, which carried on it an amber light.
"The highway was very busy," said Gordon, "which was a good thing for advertising and bad thing because it was hazardous."
Gord Stairmand and 14 year old Chelsey van Staveren walked the entire 15 km with Heather Gordon. Mark van Staveren, Shelley Wanner, Delaney Gordon and Lucas van Staveren also walked various portions of the trek. Carolyn Dionne was their faithful navigator, driver and co-pilot.
"Our on-the-road supporters were my mom, Carol Spencer, and Gord's mom, Heather Stairmand, who drove ahead to distant approaches and waited to honk the horn for encouragement," said Gordon. "We did hear some acknowledgement from the horns of other travellers that were on the road, which was really nice."
Gordon said they managed the trek in about three and a half hours.
"(We took) one 10-minute break, huddled in vehicles, due to thunder and lightning," said Gordon. "What an adventure!"
Gordon had collected about $1,200 in donations prior to the event. Since many of her supporters were co-workers, she estimates about $500 more coming from a corporate employee-matching program through her employer, Cenovus Energy.
