THE BATTLEFORDS - An awareness walk in support of raising awareness for mental health and addictions issues made its way to the Battlefords this week.
On Aug. 10, Lance Albert led the Stop the Cycle awareness walk alongside supporters and those with the “Fire Keepers” into the town of Battleford. The Fire Keepers are a support group of people who struggle with mental health, addictions, anxiety or abuse issues.
The walk began at Sweetgrass First Nation on Tuesday and arrived at Battleford late Tuesday afternoon at the junction of Highways 4 and 40.
On Wednesday the walk resumed from that location and made its way to Kanaweyimik Child & Family Services Inc. on 23rd St. West in Battleford, and then to Battle River Treaty 6 Health Centre Inc. in North Battleford. They had also planned to meet representatives with Battlefords & Area Sexual Assault Centre, Lifeways Integrative Wellness, and Canadian Mental Health Association.
In speaking to the News-Optimist Tuesday afternoon, Albert said the plan was to fill his backpack with pamphlets and information about services and take the information back to Sweetgrass. They were scheduled to walk back to Sweetgrass on Thursday.
Albert was motivated to do the walk because of his own struggles with additions and depression. He said he is now one year free of using drugs and alcohol, and credits the help of local organizations with helping him emerge from that dark time.
“Alcohol and drugs had a complete hold on me and eventually ruined my life,” said Albert.
Albert said his wife and sisters pointed him in the direction of organizations like CMHA, Kanaweyimik and Lifeways Integrated Wellness, and he has been utilizing these services since then.
“When you’re in that situation — times are dark, times are real dark. If it wasn’t for these great organizations here in North Battleford and Battleford, I don’t think I would be here.”
Albert said that when he went through his dark times, he didn’t know these organizations existed. His hope was to raise awareness, especially for those who are off social media and don’t have a phone.
When they get back to Sweetgrass they intend to take the pamphlets and information they had collected and create “awareness kits” they will distribute door-to-door to people in Sweetgrass.
“If I can bring hope to the doorstep of someone needing help that these great organizations provide, this walk will be totally worth it,” said Albert.
