Did you know that 1 in 100 people live with schizophrenia? Did you know that schizophrenia affects around 52,000 individuals, and their families, across BC? Despite how common it is, schizophrenia is still highly stigmatised and misunderstood. It is not multiple personality. It is not the result of childhood trauma, poverty, race, or bad parenting. Schizophrenia is a disease that has no cure, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t hope. There are strategies, treatments, and ways to manage this disease… there is hope.
People might not talk about schizophrenia, but we all know someone who is affected by this severe and persistent mental illness – and so each and every one of us are, in fact, either directly or indirectly affected by it.
By joining the BC Schizophrenia Society Foundation at this year’s BMO RUN4HOPE on May 1, 2022, runners and walkers will be helping fund life-saving and essential schizophrenia education, family support, and research.
The BC Schizophrenia Society Foundation (BCSS Foundation) is the fundraising arm of BC Schizophrenia Society (BCSS) — a non-profit organisation founded in 1982 by families and friends of people with schizophrenia. BCSS offers education, resources, and support for families affected by schizophrenia and other severe and persistent mental illnesses. Through presentations and awareness campaigns, BCSS works to inform and educate people about schizophrenia – and dispel the many myths and misconceptions that surround people living with this illness. Through free life-saving direct one-on-one and group support, families learn that they are not alone in their journey; and find ways to help their loved ones get the help they need.
BCSS programs and services are geared towards adults, youth, and children; helping them better understand and manage their own mental health as they support and care for loved ones who live directly with severe and persistent mental illness. What are BCSS programs and services? They are presentations that help us all better understand what it is like living with severe and persistent mental illness. They are workshops and courses that help families know what resources are available through the BC Mental Health System. They are support groups to help people know they are not alone. They are scholarships for people living with schizophrenia. And they are awareness programs that challenge the misunderstanding and misinformation that still clings to the word schizophrenia.
In his mid-teens [my son’s] personality started changing; he was very depressed, he started cutting classes and self-medicating. At 20 years old he was finally diagnosed with schizophrenia and we started our journey into the world of mental illness. Like so many before us we didn’t even know where to start, but have been lucky that we were able to attend some education sessions and have formed a network of support. We rely on groups like the BCSS for information and professional support.
So why run? Because I don’t want anyone to be afraid to tell someone else they are sick or their loved one is sick because they are afraid of a reaction based on ignorance. Because I would like research to be funded so that my beautiful son will one day come back to me. Recovery is possible, and expected but a lot of help is required.”
Guelda Redman, BCSS Foundation Board Member & Team Captain for Team Heimburger.
If you are a runner, walker, or even just someone who owns a pair of running shoes – we encourage you to fundraise for the BCSS Foundation through this year’s 2022 BMO Vancouver Marathon. As one of our annual fundraising events, the funds raised at the BMO #RUN4HOPE will contribute substantially towards our efforts in providing better care and support to families living with schizophrenia.
Regardless if you walk, runner, hop, or skip, and no matter why you choose to participate, know that by fundraising for the BCSS Foundation at this year’s BMO Vancouver Marathon, you are running for hope… and for beautiful families like Guelda’s to have the support they need to walk their journey of recovery. To read some other stories about how BCSS has touched the lives of families across BC, and to learn more about the difference you can make, head over to the BCSS Foundation website.