A personal mission 500 kilometres in the making came to a joyful finish Friday afternoon, as Portage la Prairie teacher Diane Wing wrapped up her 10-day run across Manitoba in support of mental health and suicide prevention.
Wing celebrated her final stretch at Falcon Lake around 2 p.m. with friends, family, and a well-earned slice of pizza.
“The feeling at the end was amazing,” Wing says, speaking from a local restaurant shortly after crossing the finish line. “It was a little hilly today because we went into the trails, but it was beautiful. Honestly, this whole experience has just been incredible.”
Wing’s run from the Saskatchewan border to the Ontario line raised money for the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), inspired by her late husband, who died by suicide in 2012. Her journey with running began in the wake of that loss, and her first race was in his memory back in 2014.
This time, the goal was to raise $5,000, though they reached that before the first kilometre. The goal was then raised to $10,000. By the final day, donations had climbed to just under $16,000.
“All the support has been overwhelming,” she continues. “Mental health affects everybody. And this was also about suicide prevention. I wanted to do this in memory of my late husband, but also for everyone who needs better support.”
She was greeted at the finish line by a crowd of supporters, including family, friends, former teaching colleagues, and members of her soccer team.
Wing said some of the most scenic parts of the run came on the final day, when she left the highway for the quieter, wooded trails.
"The trails today were beautiful. After Falcon Lake, it's no longer a double highway, so we took the trail. The highway is not quite as pretty," she laughs.
With the run now behind her, Wing is taking a well-earned rest, spending the night in Falcon Lake with a birthday celebration planned for tomorrow back home in Portage. Though her official birthday is July 27th, she planned the run around it to avoid long weekend traffic.
As for what comes next? For now, it’s all about recovery and reflecting on a challenge met with grit, gratitude, and grace.
“Thank you to everyone who supported us. All the kindness and positive comments that people have shown have been truly overwhelming. Thank you so much."
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