Nicholas Zhou, the namesake of Nicholas' Run for Youth Mental Health. (Image Credit: Rie Takahashi)

By Dylana Kneeshaw

YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT

Third annual Nicholas’ Run for Youth Mental Health set for Pioneer Park Saturday

Oct 30, 2025 | 4:40 PM

KAMLOOPS — Pioneer Park will be filled with eager runners in post-Halloween costumes Saturday (Nov. 1), for the latest edition of Nicholas’ Run for Youth Mental Health.

The event aims to raise money for local mental health programs and services, and offer support to young people who are going through a hard time.

It held in memory of Nicholas Zhou, Rie Takahashi’s son who died of suicide.

“If this run can help one less family, one less parent, one less friend to go through what we went through, I think this will make it worthwhile to put this one together,” Takahashi said. “[Nicholas] was just a kind soul and he wanted to help others, so we wanted to carry on his legacy.”

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Zhou’s former run coach from high school, Lisa Imeson, organizes the run alongside Takahashi.

“I was a run coach at Sa-Hali Secondary and Nicholas was one of my members and he was crucial to our group,” Imeson said. “He recruited anybody else who he thought needed some friends.”

The run itself is meant to be uplifting, hence the costumes that Imeson and Takahashi are encouraging people to wear. But it’s also an outlet for honest conversations around mental health.

“We all have days where we feel really, really down, and it’s important for us to reach out and get that help from others,” Imeson added.

Money raised is put into the Nicholas Zhou legacy fund at BC Interior Community Foundation. So far, tens of thousands of dollars have been generated for local programs, including the upcoming Foundry centre for youth mental health.

“A good chunk of the funds goes to Foundry BC, and Kamloops is having its own Foundry next summer, so we wanted to keep supporting that Foundry,” notes Takahashi.

This is only the third time the run has been held out but organizers say seeing the generosity of participants has become especially meaningful.

“This immensely helped my recovery of losing my son as well,” added Takahashi. “So it gave me strength and purpose to go on with everybody’s life.”

Mental health service providers will also be on site during the run Saturday to make sure people know what help is available.

“So please all come down here to Pioneer Park, Saturday November 1,” Imeson added. “The run starts at 9 a.m. but we’d love to see you here at 8:30 a.m. so you have time to talk with the service providers.”

You can register for the run online using this link.