May 27, 2016
Canadian military sounded the starting gun and cheered on participants at the 2015 Shoppers Drug Mart Run for Women. The event helped to raise $100,000 last year to support Reproductive Mental Health at the Lois Hole Hospital for Women in Edmonton.
Story by Kerri Robins; photo courtesy Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation
EDMONTON — Lacing up was well worth the effort for participants in the Shoppers Love You Run for Women who raised $120,000 on behalf of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation (RAHF) on May 28.
The foundation has been the charity of choice for this run in Edmonton for three years in a row, and this year, funds will support the Reproductive Mental Health Program at the Lois Hole Hospital for Women in Edmonton.
“The reproductive mental health program offers assessment and short-term treatment for women experiencing mental health issues,” says Cheryl Lux-Warholik, Reproductive Mental Health Unit Manager at the hospital. “Reproductive mental health encompasses multiple stages in a woman’s life including fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, pregnancy loss, and menopause,”
“Support for women in the perinatal period (period around childbirth from four months prior to one month after) is extremely important,” she adds, “as we know that children’s development can be adversely affected when the mothers suffer with mental health symptoms.”
The 5-km and 10-km walk/run, based out of Edmonton's Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park, also featured a 1-km little legs course for youngsters. Participants have now raised more than $286,000 over the last three runs for the foundation.
Sharlene Rutherford, Foundation Vice President, says she’s inspired by the race — and her team is thrilled to once again be the beneficiary of this event.
“The Shoppers Run for Women is outstanding in its support for the Lois Hole Hospital for Women,” she says. “Funds this year will support leading edge research in acute care perinatal mental health.”
A pilot research study also promises to generate insightful information and will help to guide practice surrounding prevention and support for perinatal mental health in the future.
Each year, 15 cities across Canada host the run, usually held in May and June. In 2014 and 2015, Edmonton topped the nation in dollars raised and public participation.
Rutherford adds: “With the support of Shoppers Drug Mart, we are making incredible achievements and reaching new levels of innovation in women’s health care.”
For more information, please visit runforwomen.ca, or royalalex.org.
