The journey is almost over for a young woman from Ottawa who left everything behind and is in-line skating across the country to raise awareness and funds for youth mental health, specifically suicide prevention.
Ashley Gilbank, 25, and her husband reached Kelowna Friday.
The journey is in remembrance of a friend who took her life by suicide, a word Gilbank associated with the weak. But not anymore. She says her friend’s death opened her eyes.
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Gilbank wanted other Canadians to open their eyes. She quit her job and decided to rollerblade across the country with her husband Pierre in tow.
Some 8,000 kilometres later, the Ottawa couple is within reach of their goal of crossing the entire country, a staggering achievement.
What’s also staggering is during those 8,000 kilometres, Gilbank has managed to stay on her feet the whole time.
The Gilbank’s were hoping to raise $60,000 for youth mental illness, but have only managed to raise $6,000. They hope to reach Victoria by October 15.
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