For the second year in a row, a group of Peterborough-area cross-country skiers will be hitting the trails to raise funds for mental health.
Presented by Wild Rock Outfitters and Kawartha Nordic Ski Club, the 8-Hour Ski Relay for Mental Health takes place on Sunday, January 22nd at the Kawartha Nordic Ski Club, located off Highway 28 just north of Haultain in North Kawartha Township, with opening ceremonies at 10 a.m. and skiing continuing until 6 p.m.
The event will raise funds for the Garden Homes Project of the Canadian Mental Health Association Halliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKRP). Through the association’s supportive housing program, the new project aims to provide affordable small homes for vulnerable people in the Peterborough area at risk of homelessness.
“Much of our community has been challenged with access to affordable housing,” says CMHA HKRP chief executive officer Mark Graham in a media release. “Through the support of this fundraiser, we hope to develop creative solutions to a highly complex issue in our region. With low vacancy rates and many people facing homelessness, this initiative is needed now more than ever.”
Skiers of all ages and abilities are encouraged to participate in this fun recreational event; there is no requirement to ski for the full eight hours. To register as an individual or as a team, or to donate, visit canadahelps.org.
With three loop options that cross paths with the rustic warming cabins at Kawartha Nordic Ski Club, skiers will be able to take a break during the relay. Peterborough’s Ashburnham Ale House will be providing chili to all registered skiers (you need to bring your own mug and spoon from home to receive a serving).
The event, which aims to raise $15,000 for the CMHA HKRP Garden Homes Project, is being organized by Wild Rock staff member and Kawartha Nordic board member John Hauser.
“As a worker in Peterborough’s downtown, I walk from my home in East City on my commute to work and have seen the struggles of people experiencing homelessness,” Hauser says. “The Garden Homes Project will be a step forward in addressing the housing crisis in the area. The relay seemed to be a great way to bring community together to raise funds for this much-needed cause.”
Hauser also organized last February’s 24 Hour Ski Marathon for Mental Health, after losing a cousin to suicide during the pandemic and feeling the toll of the pandemic on his own mental health.
For updates on the 8-Hour Ski Relay for Mental Health, visit @knsc_8_hour_relay on Instagram. For more information on the relay, email Hauser at johnh@wildrock.net.
