Taking Steps to Get Back to Self: Walk, Run, or Bike for a Cause
As a psychotherapist, I don’t have the ability to cure a terminal illness. But as a person, I am able to put my shoes to the ground to raise money to fight a disease that is bigger than me, and, hopefully, help others while I’m at it.
By Jennifer G. McKechnie, MSW, RSW, Psychotherapist
Losing a loved one can be really earth shattering. Any sense of the world that we thought we knew can go out the window – and along with it, any sense of control over our lives. My dad passed away when I was in my 20s. In the months after, I recall feeling like my life wasn’t really mine, while others went on around me as though things were completely normal.
Since that time, I have lost other special people in my life. Perhaps with age, or with the learning that comes with previous experiences of loss, I have found some different ways of trying to bring some autonomy to a time that can feel so out of control – one of them being raising funds towards finding a cure or in support of relevant charitable organizations.
A Grounding Effect
In the years prior to (and during) my dad’s illness, I had taken up running as a way of managing stress. What I eventually came to understand was that when I chose to go for a jog, each step would help me feel a sense of grounding during a time when I struggled to feel present. Literally planting my feet on the ground helped me return to a sense of reality that had been taken by the storm of illness and loss. This understanding stayed with me through the loss of grandparents, numerous pets, and friends.
With this knowledge in hand, I, along with other family members, began to get involved in local runs and walks in support of cancer research, hospital programs, and other services that we had benefitted from during difficult times. Even before my dad passed away from cancer, my mom would take part in a yearly fundraiser and proudly write that she was walking for my dad on her shirt. After he passed, my mom continued the tradition, while I chose the running route and embarked on a few half marathons and eventually a full marathon – all with the goal of taking care of my health, raising funds for charities, and keeping the memory of lost family members alive.
Taking Steps
Many charities now organize walks, runs, or bike rides as a way to raise funds for research or the services they provide. If you want to take steps to raise funds in support or an organization or place that you or a dying loved one has benefitted from, there are many opportunities to choose from. Here are a few:
- Golf tournaments
For the golf lovers out there, contact your local courses to find out what tournaments are being held in your area and where the proceeds go. A day on the course with friends is a great way to celebrate a loved one who you are missing (especially if they were a golfer!). - Heart and Stroke Foundation’s “Ride for Heart”
Whether you like to ride, walk, or run – they’re all possible for this fundraiser. Strap on your cycling gear and pull on the Lycra to raise funds for someone close to your heart. - Hospice hikes
Many communities now have their own hospices that provides support and nurturing to individuals and their families during one of life’s most challenging times. Connect with your local hospice to see if they are operating any fundraising events, like a Hike for Hospice, that you can get involved in. - Steps for Life
This is a charity that supports families who have lost a loved one through workplace tragedies. This charity puts on walks to raise funds to continue their work.
- Toronto Waterfront Marathon
Speaking from experience, this is a well-planned event on a great course through the streets of Toronto. The atmosphere is fun and supportive, and there are a number of community charities to choose from so that you can focus your fundraising on a cause that means a lot to you. Prefer to do it virtually in your own community? Go for it! There is an option to run right in your own backyard.
These are just a few of the opportunities available to us. Within each community there are likely so many more. Or, if you are feeling really energetic, plan your own type of fundraiser* that puts a spotlight on fitness and fun.
Fundraise to Fight Disease in a Different Way
As a psychotherapist, I don’t have the ability to cure a terminal illness. But as a person, I am able to put my shoes to the ground to raise money to fight a disease that is bigger than me, and, hopefully, help others while I’m at it.
Losing a loved one is hard. Sometimes, the motivation of setting a goal with them in mind can be a way towards building our own health, bringing sense of a wider community, and supporting others.
Editor’s Note: Serenia Life members can apply for seed money to get a fundraiser off the ground via our Action Team benefit (value: $250). Learn more
About the Author
Jennifer G. McKechnie is a trauma therapist working with both children and adults. Jennifer utilizes interventions such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, as well as Polyvagal Theory in her work. She values ongoing learning as a key part of maintaining and growing her practice. When away from the office, Jennifer incorporates self-regulation techniques into her day by connecting with nature through running, as well as spending time with her partner and pets.
