The very first Unmask Mental Health costumed walk-and-run event in Airdrie, set to take place on Oct. 17, is attempting to peel away the layers of social stigma associated with mental illness.
Three years ago Mike Loughman was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He said prior to diagnosis his mental illness resulted in him dropping out of school, living on the streets for a year and a half, drifting from job to job and self-medicating with drugs and alcohol for 20 years.
Since receiving treatment for his specific mental illness at Action North Recovery Centre in High Level, Alta., Loughman has been clean for a year and now does motivational speeches at schools and recovery centres.
“I went through my whole life knowing I had a problem but no one listened,” he said. “I’m doing this fundraiser because I want to stop this from happening to other kids.”
Participants can register for Unmask Mental Health online at defeatdepression.ca or on location at Grace Baptist Church between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Oct. 17, where Artsy Fartsy Faces Body Art & More and Mane Image hair styling will transform about 100 people into zombies. Alternatively, participants who would rather zombify themselves can register at East Lake Park where the event will take place.
Starting at 12 p.m., the children’s Halloween walk or run begins with costumed kids running one lap around the lake, stopping to trick or treat and visit the costume contest judges at stations along the way.
“They’re raising money, they’re in their costumes and having a great time,” Loughman said.
At 12:30 p.m., the freshly painted horde of zombies begins their shuffle around the course and the adults finish three laps around the lake.
Prizes will be given away for best costume and top fundraisers, as well as a silent auction and raffles with 75 per cent of all donations raised going to the Airdrie Food Bank and 25 per cent going to the Defeat Depression Campaign, which is part of the Mood Disorder Society of Canada.
After the run, the event concludes at Grace Baptist Church with guest speakers including Loughman, Lori McRitchie, executive director of the Airdrie Food Bank, and others.
Loughman said he hopes residents will take the time to come out and support the event and shine a light on the darkness of public knowledge about mental illness that is very real and often overlooked in our society.
“We need to raise awareness. People need to talk about it,” he said.
“We shouldn’t be ashamed and people shouldn’t look down on people because they have a mental illness. We’re still people with feelings.”
