Darcy’s Nature Walk for Mental Wellness
After 17 years of organizing the annual Darcy’s Nature Walk for Mental Wellness (DNWMW) and offering other mental health initiatives, the organizers are hanging up their shoes.
After great consideration, Randy Rinaldi and his family have decided that the June 8th event will be the final edition of Darcy’s Nature Walk for Mental Wellness.
“As a family we started this event with hopes of raising some awareness of the reality of suicide and importance of mental wellness within the community and with all honesty, we probably also did it as an outlet for grieving the loss of Darcy Rinaldi (nee Peknik). Seventeen years ago people were not openly talking about these topics and we are glad to have played a tiny roll in making some of those conversations happen locally. We expected to host the Nature Walk a few years with the expectation that it would naturally fade away but that is not what happened. It seems each year the event grew more meaningful to the community and that really kept us motivated. As a family we are at a very different place in our lives – much older – and looking to step away from hosting the annual community walk.”
Over the years, DNWMW (and other events) raised money that went into local mental health promotion and educational events. There is still a sum of money to be utilized and the organizers and CNP Health Foundation will continue to use these funds for local initiatives. Once the funds are spent (in a meaningful way) then they will be able to fully step away.
“We feel a deep responsibility to ensure that people’s donations are used responsibly and following our mandate. By us stepping back, we do not believe that the need for mental health awareness and initiatives has lessened – in fact, the opposite is true – and therefore we are committed to do what we can in the near future.”
Randy Rinaldi and family asks that you join them for the final event – perhaps it will be your 1st time or maybe you have been each year. Either way, it is a day to focus on your own mental wellness and/or walk on behalf of someone that you know is experiencing mental health issues.
This year’s event is on Saturday, June 8th. Registration is at 9:15 am. The walk starts at 10:00 am. For full details, visit darcysnaturewalk.com or follow us on Facebook @darcysnaturewalk.
“Thank you to everyone who supported this event and our family over the years and looking forward to seeing everyone on June 8th.”
Written by Randi Lynn Rinaldi
Visit darcysnaturewalk.com