Grande Prairie Teen returns home while nearing finish line for Mental Health Run

“It just shows how many people really struggle with it and how little people talk about it,” Troyer says. “Just how many people go through mental health struggles and struggle to get it out. Even though it’s something that we deal with in our own head, it’s not something that should stay in our own head. Especially when it’s such a strong thing that no one can see.”

(Photo Credit: Everything GP Staff/Nathaniel Leigh)

She says she is also raising funds, with the hope of donating to Solstice Integrated Wellness Centre, who helped a friend of hers recover from addiction.

“She was on anti-depressants, but she was getting high all the time, so it was mixing it together, which doesn’t work the same.” she says. “She went there to get cleansed from all the drugs and to feel the work of the antidepressants doing their job. She began to very much heal and learn how to cope in different ways.”

For the Grande Prairie leg of her journey a small parade was formed, with Troyer and her supporters running down 100 Street accompanied and protected by Fire Rescue and police vehicles.

(Photo Credit: Everything GP Staff/Nathaniel Leigh)

Troyer says one of her more surprising obstacles was developing a loss of appetite.

“It’s just like my mouth does not have energy to chew and swallow food!” she says. “Obviously I need to be eating so much. It’s not like, one long run and then supper. It’s like every single day is so much food. I wish I would have trained more, forcing myself to eat and finding new foods I know I like when I run. Because it’s getting tiring eating the same thing.”

Her run is anticipated to wrap up in Demmitt Saturday, June 28.

(Photo Credit: Everything GP Staff/Nathaniel Leigh)

by Nathaniel Leigh