What began as a deeply personal mission to honour her late husband, Kelly, has ended with a community-wide triumph and a cheque nearly four times bigger than she first imagined.
Portage la Prairie teacher and runner Diane Wing recently presented the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) with $19,436, the final tally from her 500-kilometre run across Manitoba earlier this summer. The donation will support suicide prevention, mental health programs, and help improve access to services for those who can’t afford care.
“I never thought we’d get anywhere near this,” Wing says. “When we started, $5,000 was our goal, and I thought even that was a stretch. I was blown away by how much we raised.”
Wing completed the 10-day journey from the Saskatchewan border to the Ontario line on July 18. Along the way, donations poured in from across the province, supporters followed her progress online, cheered her on at roadside stops, and continued giving even after the final kilometre was behind her.
The idea for a formal cheque presentation came as a way to close the chapter on a journey that had been both physically and emotionally intense, with a cause as important as the kilometres.
“The donation will not only go towards suicide prevention and mental health, but also accessibility. Mental health resources shouldn’t be a privilege, but some of the people who need help the most can't afford it," she explains.
Wing hopes the message behind the kilometres continues to ripple outward, encouraging open conversations and offering hope to those who need it.
“People need to know that it is OK to not be OK, but if you can't handle it alone, look for help. No one is ever better off without you, which sometimes becomes the mentality. Think about the little things in life that are good because sometimes the big picture can be overwhelming, and if you're noticing your friends and family members retreating, check in on them," she stresses.
Although the cross-Manitoba run is behind her, Wing isn’t done lacing up. She’s already turning her attention to helping organize the upcoming Terry Fox Run in Portage la Prairie.
Before that, though, she’s enjoying some well-earned rest and plenty of time to reflect on a summer she’ll never forget.
“The kindness people showed me, from donations to words of encouragement along the way, was incredible. I was never expecting this level of support, and it's amazing how much people can step up when it matters.”
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