May Is for Mental Health + A Million Reasons to Run

May is Mental Health Awareness Month - and if you’re anything like me, it hits a little deeper. As mom's we worry, balance the books and even break down sometimes behind closed doors.... I know I’m not alone. This month, I’m lacing up my running shoes and opening my heart. I’m running 30 kilometers over 31 days as part of the Million Reasons Run to support our local children’s hospitals nationwide - and you should too.

Mental Health Starts Young

Children's hospitals don’t just patch up broken bones - they help mend broken hearts and troubled minds. Anxiety, depression, trauma... they don’t wait for adulthood to arrive. The support and resources that kids get early can literally change the course of their lives. I’ve seen it in my own circle.

I’ve felt the fear, the guilt, the longing to understand. I've sat countless nights in emergency rooms being admitted for days upon weeks when my first son was born. He came out non-responsive, had heart complications, constant sickness, hernias, ear infections and possible kidney issues. We didn't get a direct diagnosis for his disability until he was well over a year old, so up until that point we had no answers.

My entire family was confused, frustrated and upset because we couldn't take away his pain - and when this happens, sometimes blame gets thrown around. Emotions are high and nobody understands, tests take what feels like forever to come back and then it's just the waiting game. A moment like this you just wish you could trade places with them and let them be free. Parents always smile and tell you it's okay but the truth is - it was hard, it still is hard - and it's not something you ever expect to go through. *For those wondering and on the brighter side of things, Hendrix is now 9 and has officially been cleared of all cardiovascular issues - and we are SO very proud of him.

31 Days, 30 Kilometers and A Million Reasons Why.

I’m running for McMaster Children's Hospital here in Hamilton, Ontario. I'm running for the kid who cries themselves to sleep and doesn’t know why. I’m running for the single mom who may be too exhausted to see the signs. I’m running for the families who’ve spent nights in emergency rooms praying for answers like mine. I’m running for the teens who feel invisible in a world that’s too loud. I'm running for all the kids, toddlers and babies I've encountered during my time spent in these places. They are the real superheroes. I’m running for mine - but I'm also running for yours too.

This Isn’t Just About The Numbers - It Comes Down To Showing Up

I’m not a marathon mom. I’m not fast, I’m not experienced and sometimes I cry halfway through.... but I show up because every kilometer is a step toward something better. Every sweaty, tear filled mile is a reminder that there are a million reasons to keep going, even on the hardest days.

Walk This Journey With Me - For the Kids Who Can’t.

Whether you run, walk, donate or just share a quick message - you’re part of the change. You’re helping kids get the care they need. You’re helping moms like me feel less alone. You’re reminding someone out there that their struggle matters and that someone is fighting for them.

This May, we’re not just raising money - we’re raising awareness, hope and the voices we were given to use. Let’s run with purpose. Let’s run with love - but most importantly, because children need us as much as we need them.

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