Don's Marathon for Mental Health

Support the cause and raise awareness of mental health care in BC by donating through Don's Marathon!

D-Day Landing Marathon, Caen France | June 2, 2024

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Remembering Arina

Hello Friends,

As I sat down to write this, I realised it's been a lot of years since I've reached out and invited you all to "participate" in one of my athletic adventures. It's not because I haven't been doing them (although the size of my waistline would suggest that I haven't...) but more because it's been a while since I've been personally affected by an issue to the point that I felt I needed to step up and do something. Let me explain...

About 5 or 6 years ago, a young woman named Arina moved into the suite above and to the right of mine. I'm rarely home, so I didn't have a lot of interactions with her but she seemed pleasant enough... always a wave or a smile as she went past. Fast forward to about two years ago I started hearing that Arina was struggling. Mostly, Arina had some disagreements with other neighbours and it wasn't long after that I became involved in one of the incidents. And that's where I started to gain an understanding of what the root issues were.

Some of you may be aware that I spent over 20 years "on the road" as an RCMP Auxiliary Constable, working with a regular RCMP member on Friday nights in the West Shore area of Victoria. During that time I had numerous opportunities to engage with people affected by a wide variety of mental health issues. Based on my experiences in this area I started to suspect Arina was struggling with problems related to her mental health.

My suspicions were confirmed as I managed to learn that Arina was working through a number of issues including epilepsy and other mental health challenges, that she was a mom to two pre-teen girls and that she really really just wanted to get better so that she could go back to being a mom to her girls. I also saw, when her medications were working and life was treating her well, that Arina was a kind, gentle soul.

Late on a Thursday night in early November 2023 I was awakened to the sounds of a disturbance in the hallway. I intervened, got the parties separated, and noted that Arina had been injured. RCMP and ambulance arrived and Arina's statement was taken and the paramedics attended to her. I wished her well, and went to bed. I found out from neighbours later that the following morning Arina had knocked on their door, mistaking it for mine, and that she had a small gift for me as thanks for my help the previous evening.

The following Tuesday, I returned home from work to see the RCMP had returned and I was informed that Arina had passed away in her suite sometime over the weekend. The investigation is still on-going but it has been determined for certain that Arina did not die of an overdose or by suicide. We may never know the exact cause.

That night, as I contemplated the events of the day, I realised I couldn't let it end here. I felt I needed to do something... something to raise awareness of the struggles that people with mental issues have, something to dispel the myths and overcome the prejudices associated with mental illness and, most importantly, to honour the memory of Arina, a young woman who faced the challenges of mental illness, the issues it caused and ultimately lost her battle.

So, how can you help? It’s simple – sponsor me for the upcoming D-Day Landings Marathon, to be held in Caen France on June 2nd. I’m really not fussy – you can sponsor me for simply running the marathon, pledge X dollars per minute that I’m faster than my forecast time (which, by the way is 5hrs 25 minutes), bet me that I won’t finish it at all or pay me to run it in a pink tutu (which will cost you dearly…)….all I ask is that you make a contribution!

Your contribution will go towards research and programs to support those like Arina, whose lives have been cruelly interrupted by mental illness and the challenges it brings. Your contributions DO help, and I encourage you to help out in any way you can.

With thanks,

Don

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I am Janet, Arina's mom. 

Arina came into my life very unexpectedly and very loved all at once.

She became the apple of my eye, watching her grow and bloom into a wonderful daughter, mother to her children. She loved her girls so much.

Arina changed my life from day one.

In 2010, Arina started having epileptic seizures. The seizures worsened over a few short years and Arinas mental health started to decline. The hardest part, as Arinas mom, was watching this beautiful and talented artist fall into a dark place, and eventually that darkness took her away from her daughters and all who loved her so dearly.

It is with immense gratitude that Don is doing this fundraiser for persons like Arina, who have suffered from mental health issues. With your help, we can support in many ways.

With much love to all who read this and support this mission.

Many blessing to you all.

Janet (Arina's mom)

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Don will be participating in the D-Day Landing Marathon and will be raising funds in support of mental health programs delivered in British Columbia. This fundraiser is in memory of Arina, and funds will go towards supporting CMHA BC's mental health program Bounceback.

The Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division (CMHA BC) is proud to have fundraisers like Don raise funds to help support our mental health programs and services.

BounceBack is a free skill-building program designed to help adults and youth 13+ manage low mood, mild to moderate depression, anxiety, stress or worry.