Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Ashley Legassic

COMMUNITY COMPASSION

B.C. mum who lost son to suicide keeps his memory alive through Community Compassion Walk

Jun 21, 2019 | 4:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — A northern B.C. mother has travelled nearly 1,300 kilometres in hopes of shedding light on mental illness and suicide.

Sandra McArthur’s son Quinnton died by suicide in October, 2015. Since then, she’s been trying to spread the message of being more compassionate and open about the struggles we all go through.

On May 12, she left Prince Rupert to begin the “Community Compassion Walk.” Her journey took her nearly 1,300 kilometres on foot to end in Kamloops this afternoon (June 21).

“Out of the walk like this is just to be able to incite compassion, to be able to talk a little bit more openly to people who do have challenges,” McArthur says of her goal. “Everyone out there who (does) have challenges, we do recognize them as they’re someone’s child and in order to stop the stigmas we have to start talking and we have to keep talking.”

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McArthur says it’s difficult for men in particular to open up about their struggles and ask for help. She says that’s one thing that may have contributed to her son’s decision.

The walk aims for people to have a safe space to share their story. McArthur didn’t fundraise during the walk, instead she asked people to donate their time by walking and opening up the conversation around mental health.

“So we get two people walking, we get two people talking,” she says, “and when two people talk, healing starts. So that has been the ultimate donations we’ve received. We have one gentleman — he’s 77 years old and he walks five kilometres daily. He’s dedicated to this and we are truly thankful for his support and his donation of time. Time is the most valuable thing that we can give each other and thats what weve been so blessed with along this journey.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, call 1 (800) 784-2433 or go to crisiscentre.bc.ca for more resources.