The Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia’s 3rd Annual Road to Recovery Walkathon

Held on Saturday, May 7th, 2011

Your presence
had a strong impact on reducing stigma

Your presence
motivated our community to learn more about mental illness

Your presence
has inspired others to take action

Your presence was IMPORTANT!

The funds raised during the first three Road to Recovery walkathons have been crucial in allowing the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia to carry out its mission of improving the quality of life for those affected by schizophrenia. Your support is vital to continuation of the extensive and important work of the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia. Your support is essential to the delivery of the educational and support programs such as Strengthening Families Together, Your Recovery Journey, and the From Recovery to Discovery Peer Support Group. Your support is IMPORTANT!

There is still time to make a donation in support of the 3rd Annual Road to Recovery Walkathon! To do this, please click here and then click "Make a Pledge" for a specific person, or click here to make a general donation.

Please click on any photograph to magnify it.

SSNS – Recovery is Possible!

Major Sponsors

Gift-In-Kind Sponsors

Please click on the sponsor logos to be directed to their websites.

2010 Road to Recovery Walkathon

Held on Saturday, May 8th, 2010

It's not to late to make a donation!

The Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia’s

2nd Annual Road to Recovery Walkathon

Your participation increased the public’s awareness of schizophrenia and helped raise over $27,500 to support the extensive and crucial work of the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia. THANK YOU!

This year, in addition to the regular pledge sheets, we had online pledging! Walkers were able to set up their own pledge website, send e-mails to friends to request that they to make a pledge for them online, track their online pledges, and much more. To view the online pledging, please visit the 2nd Annual Road to Recovery Walkathon website by clicking here.

Stephen Ayer, executive director of the SSNS, welcoming the walkers.

Learning the chants from Cecilia McRae (left) and Donna Methot!

The 2010 Road to Recovery walkers posing for a group photograph.

The start of the five-kilometre Road to Recovery walk.

On the Road to Recovery!

Preparing for the auction!

Please click on any photograph to enlarge it. Photographs Kim Clark and Guy Methot.

The 3rd Annual Road to Recovery Walkathon will be held on Saturday, May 7th, 2011. For further information, please contact Donna Methot at 462-8658 or send an email to hrmchapterssns@accesswave.ca.

SSNS – Recovery is Possible!

2010 Major Sponsors

2010 Gift-In-Kind Sponsors

Randy Ross

Photography

Media Advisory from the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia

The Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia’s 2nd Annual Road to Recovery Walkathon

Halifax, May 6th, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia is holding its 2nd Annual Road to Recovery Walkathon on Saturday, May 8th, 2010. The five-kilometre walk begins at 1:00 pm at the Halifax Curling Club, 948 South Bland Street, proceeds north on South Park Street and Bell Road, south on Robie Street, and finishes by returning to the Halifax Curling Club at 2:30 pm via Inglis Street. From 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm there will be refreshments, the presentation of prizes, and entertainment by Stand Up For Mental Health comedians Owen Redden and Shan MacDonald. The guest speaker is Cecilia McRae, president of the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia.

Schizophrenia is not a split personality. It is a complex biochemical brain disorder characterized by one defining symptom – a loss of touch with reality (psychosis). Schizophrenia directly affects 1% of Nova Scotians at some point in their lifetime, and indirectly affects substantially more family members and friends. It is a highly treatable illness that influences the way a person thinks, acts, and perceives their world. With treatment, the majority of people with schizophrenia significantly recover. And the prognosis is getting better as research on the illness progresses, as treatments become more readily available, as people get help earlier, and as mental health laws recognize the urgent requirement for compassionate and effective involuntary treatment.

The Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia provides a community-based network of knowledgeable and dedicated volunteers so desperately needed by many individuals directly affected by schizophrenia, as well as their family members, friends, colleagues, and communities. Held during Mental Health Week, the Road to Recovery Walkathon is an opportunity for the greater community to get involved and to help reduce the stigma so often associated with a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

All proceeds from the Road to Recovery Walkathon go to the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia to support the delivery of its crucial and extensive programs and services. For further information, to make a donation, or to make a pledge on behalf of one of the many walkers, visit www.ssnswalk.dojiggy.com.

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Cecilia McRae, Owen Redden, Shan MacDonald, and Stephen Ayer will be available for interviews during the event.


For additional information or to schedule an interview contact:

Dr. Stephen Ayer
Executive Director
Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia
(902) 465-2601
ssns@ns.sympatico.ca

Stamping out stigma

A letter to the editor published in today's edition of The Chronicle Herald:

Last weekend, people of all ages gathered in Halifax for the Road to Recovery Walk-a-thon held by the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia. We walked through Halifax together to support families, friends and all individuals who have been touched by mental illness. Our aim was to raise funds, but more importantly to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. I was disappointed that we received no coverage from The Chronicle Herald.

Many people and families touched by mental illness suffer stigma created by society and the public. It’s up to us to work together to learn more about schizophrenia and what we can do as a community to aid in eliminating the stigma surrounding it. Recovery is possible, but we need everyone’s help to make it a reality.

Laura Dunnington, Halifax

The Road to Recovery Walkathon - May 9th, 2009

Please click on any photograph to enlarge it.





All of the above photographs taken by AnitaLouise Martinez.





All of the above photographs taken by Kim Clark.








All of the above pre-event photographs taken by Stephen Ayer.


A big thank you to ...

Sponsors:

Mental Health Services



Janssen-Ortho Inc.

Genpharm ULC

Prize and Gift Donors:

Please click on the above image to magnify it.