Smile Trek to raise funds for mental health supports

The Global Market will host its first Smile Trek on Sept. 29 to raise money for mental health supports in the classroom.

The fundraiser will take place at Crow’s General Store on 17th Street East from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., during which participants will walk the trails of the neighbouring Assiniboine Food Forest.

Participants will also have the opportunity to collect donations from sponsors.

All of the funds raised from the Smile Trek will go toward anti-bullying programs and mental health supports in Brandon schools.

“We wanted to make it a walk that was a bit different from all the other walks,” said Erin Gobeil, manager of the Building Re-Fit Store in Brandon.

The idea of doing a trek came from a desire to host an activity that would be out in nature and that everyone could take part in, she said.

The fundraising goal, as stated on the Smile Trek website, has been listed as $10,250.

The money will be used to bring in author Sue Young, who wrote the book “Solution-Focused Schools: Anti-Bullying and Beyond,” for a two-day training event. As of Tuesday afternoon, $3,500 had been raised.

Gobeil has spoken out about bullying in the past. In March, she gave a presentation to the Brandon School Division board of trustees, in which she said her son had been bullied earlier in the school year by another student.

She has also been an advocate for the Happy Bell campaign at the Building Re-Fit Store, where all sales of Happy Bells go toward mental health supports.

For more information on the Smile Trek, call 204-728-2227 or email globalmarketbrandon@gmail.com

Participants wanting to raise money can pick up a pledge form at 1233 Rosser Avenue or the Building Re-Fit Store on 12th Street, or download a copy by visiting smiletrekandfestival.weebly.com.

» mlee@brandonsun.com

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