Roller Blade Across Canada for Mental Illness

Good day to all,

 

My name is Christopher Anderson, I was diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder in 2009. As soon as possible I will be roller blading across Canada every mile for the cause of mental Illness. Here is part of my story.

 

I was born in Montreal, Quebec in 1969. When I was a very young my family moved to Cambridge, Ontario. I am the youngest of four children. My childhood regarding my family was excellent and honestly nothing but. There were issues but everything was always tackled quickly and resolved fairly.

 

My childhood regarding school was an absolute disaster. When I think back I can remember vividly that I only truly understood school till about grade 7 or so. It may seem laughable to many, however, it was and continues to be a very devastating fact in my head and heart. After I graduated St Andrew’s Middle School, my parents took me to ski Lake Louise and Sunshine in Banff. That was it for me, I didn’t care if I ever stepped foot into a classroom again, I loved the mountains, and everything outdoor. I quickly realized my classroom was to be outside for the most part. I’d like to add that school did bring me some very wonderful close friends but that’s it, other than sports.

 

The following is a statement from my psychiatrist, back in 2009. My diagnosis; a long history of attention deficit disorder characterized by severe difficulties with concentration, easy distractibility with impulsivity, combined with physical hyperactivity with severe difficulties controlling moods and emotional volatility, meaning AFFECTIVE BIPOLAR DISORDER. Plus I am dyslexic. These words do not describe the perfect student, these words describe someone who didn’t graduate high school despite going to night school even after high school.

 

At that point I had given up on school. I have been called STUPID all my life by so many people, even a teacher or two. Now I’m over it but the word STUPID still tears me apart personally. So funny, at 52 yrs old I can clearly see that I am just as bright as any other person around, just in different areas.

 

In North America there are roughly 40,000 mental hospital beds that have been shut down, there are long waits for psychiatric beds for the mentally ill. The stigma needs to erode and the compassion, not laughter needs to be given to the bipolar community world wide and all who suffer from any form of mental Illness. This is my choice, this is what I choose to fight for. I’m out solely to bring awareness to the bipolar and the mentally ill community. It is my goal to grind out every mile of this 4,000 mile journey to give people that are mentally ill the confidence to carry on with life no matter what, don’t take the suicide route, it’s too easy. When I am out there executing this monumental event, taking lots of risk, it is my hope and dream that others will follow suit and their lives will start to change for good in a positive manner.

 

I will be accepting donations for the Canadian Mental Health Association and obviously my Go Fund Me Account. All I ask regarding donations is that if someone donates $1.00, .50 cent goes to the CMHA and .50 cents would go to me to help me get across Canada. I’m asking for an even split. Hopefully that works for everyone. There isn’t a maximum donation amount but $20.00 to each cause is the minimum.

 

If you are cash negative, words of encouragement would be greatly appreciated. I realize this isn’t the best of financial times for us working stiffs but I’m pushing forward regardless.

 

Thanks to all who have read this, your contributions will be in my heart forever and you will be part of such a fantastic needed cause.

 

Christopher Anderson