I remember the jingle and the commercials; a boy dialing the number in a payphone 1-800-668-6868. (You have the tune in your head now, right?) The message I got from the ad as a child was that there was always someone to turn to for any kind of help, a non-judgemental sounding board was at the other end of this number 24/7.
Thankfully, there still is.
We hear so much about the kinds of problems kids are facing these days, and though I’m sure every generation looks to the next and feels the problems are getting worse, I have to say that the fears I have for my children are different from the fears my parents had for theirs.
Sometimes children don’t have a trusted adult in their lives they can turn to for help; writing out their feelings in a journal or opening up to a peer may not always be enough. Sometimes it’s the dedication and concern of a volunteer counsellor on the other end of the phone that can mean the difference between a life of emotional/physical pain, and a happier ending.
When I was asked for my support to spread the news about the Walk So Kids Can Talk, I whole-heartedly suggested I write a blog post. Presented by Bank of Monteal, this walk is the largest fundraiser of the year for Kids Help Phone and deserves a lot of attention. Having a voice is important for all of us. It’s why I write and why I encourage my daughter to come to me with her thoughts, if not out loud then at least in writing. But sometimes it’s not that simple, and that’s where Kids Help Phone is invaluable.
Kids Help Phone cannot provide the necessary services and meet the growing needs of our children without the public’s support. If you are able to help out with a donation or get to the walk itself, please do and take some friends with you. If you would like to share about this cause, please feel free to copy and paste the information below:
Date: Sunday, May 4, 2014
Check-in: 9:30 AM
Walk start: 11:00 AM
Address: David Lam Park, 1300 Pacific Boulevard, Vancouver, British Columbia
Website: http://www.walksokidscantalk.ca/walk-locations/vancouver/
Join The Conversation On Twitter: #WSKCT14 #BeAHero
About the Walk so Kids Can Talk presented by BMO
The Walk so Kids Can Talk presented by BMO (#BeAHero) is a fun and inspirational 5K walk where thousands of kids, adults, families, schools, community organizations, and corporations across Canada join together to support kids’ potential by raising funds for Kids Help Phone. It’s a terrific way to build community and enjoy a great experience outdoors while supporting an important cause: young people’s well-being.
The Walk provides help and hope to kids everywhere, sending them the message that we walk together to make our world a more supportive place for them.
Held on the first Sunday in May since 2002, the Walk is Canada’s largest for child and youth mental health and well-being and kicks off Mental Health Week in Canada each year. The Walk is Kids Help Phone’s largest fundraising event of the year and raises a significant portion of the revenue needed to keep Kids Help Phone’s day and night counselling service available.
