The Canadian Mental Health Association’s Saskatoon branch is looking to raise critical funding for the mental health of women and girls this week, during the inaugural CMHA Run for Women.

CMHA Executive Director, Faith Bodnar says since the pandemic began they have been providing services virtually and they need for mental health help has increased. She says contacts with their client base has jumped up 2 to 3 times over the previous months, and people have needed more connection and support than they had before.

The run she says is a good opportunity for people to look after their physical health, support their mental health with physical activity and support the CMHA’s programs so they can serve more woman and target some of the things they do more directly.

Close to 650 participants from across Saskatchewan will join the run virtually this week, with the final day on Sunday. Runners and walkers choose their own route while doing a 5k or 10k run.

Bodnar is expecting to they will raise close to $40,000 during the CMHA Run for Women.

For more information on how to support the teams involved go here.