The Canal Pursuit started three years ago as a solo run for mental health awareness, spanning 750 kilometres along the Trent-Severn and Rideau Canal systems.
Runner and founder Clay Williams now has company along the way as runners have joined him in the pursuit to raise awareness and funds for mental health and the Mood Disorders Society of Canada.
“The last two years it was one person — me — running end to end,” said Williams, who has family members who suffer from mood disorders — including his two older brothers, who took their own lives.
“When I first started planning, I thought it was a one year event…and so many people who ran as pace setters told me, ‘if you ever do this again I’m going to help you by doing it,” said Williams. “I found out that if you are doing something good and something that is right, people will want to help you.”
Williams says there are more than 40 participants running this year. Among them is Peterborough’s Carlotta James. She and her team plan to cover 100 kilometres, on Sunday (Aug. 29) as members of her relay team will share different legs of the run.
The mental health advocate says she’s doing it to show her support for the people in her life who are dealing with mental health issues.
“Personally I have many family members dealing with mental illness and so when I run I think of everybody that can run for various reasons and that keeps me motivated to run for them,” said James, who is also a film producer and is currently putting the finishing touches on a documentary about youth dealing with mental health issues in Ontario.
The Canal Pursuit runs from Aug. 25 to Sept. 1 and s looking to raise $10,000 for the Mood Disorders Society of Canada.