Vancouver Island Mental Health Society (formerly Columbian Centre Society) board member (and Vancouver Island University professor) Mark Blackell will head to this year’s Boston Marathon and he hopes to raise some much-needed funds for mental health programs in the process. Contribute here.
Mark Blackell runs with the Bastion Running Club in Nanaimo, on Vancouver Island. The club supports a social atmosphere while providing both competitive and recreational running opportunities within the community. Mark also tries to run as many of the Vancouver Island Race Series races as possible.
Blackell started running a few years ago for health reasons (he has type 2 diabetes) and “got hooked” on running and the running culture and community. His first experience with marathon-related fundraising occurred last year at the BMO Vancouver Marathon. Mark raised nearly $2,000 for the Canadian Diabetes Association.
The Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon and ranks as one of the world’s most prestigious road racing events. The 119th Boston Marathon will be held on April 20, 2015 — and Nanaimo’s Mark Blackell will be there.
In the weeks leading up to his participation in the Boston Marathon Mark is working to raise money for mental health programs available through the Vancouver Island Mental Health Society (formerly Columbian Centre Society) . The programs provide housing and rehabilitation for those with a mental illness so that they can live independent constructive lives in their communities.
All funds raised by Mark will go to support people in the VIMHS mental health programs; he is covering all personal costs of his participation in the Boston Marathon.
For more information or to make a contribution, contact Tona Thickett at the Vancouver Island Mental Health Society (formerly Columbian Centre Society) at (250) 758-8711. Contribute here.
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Images of Mark Blackell running in the Cedar 12k race by Erin Burrett
audio: #Nanaimo runner Mark Blackell raising funds for mental health as part of marathon http://t.co/Cvym6rqfHd pic.twitter.com/rjhfBijseU
— People First Radio (@peoplefirstrad) March 9, 2015
