P.E.I. Marathon teams up with UPEI students to raise money for mental health

The UPEI Student Union is teaming up with the P.E.I. Marathon to raise money for mental health initiatives on campus.

The marathon is helping support Outrun Stigma, a charity that raises money for the university's Mental Health Initiatives Fund. The fund was created in March to help students plan programs that raise awareness about mental health issues.

"I know a lot of students, just speaking with them one on one, felt that it was more a reactive approach they were receiving on campus … but they were really wanting something more proactive, something that the discussion began right when they walked on campus in September," Dana Kenny, president of the UPEI Student Union, told Mainstreet host Karen Mair.

Kenny said teaming up with the marathon seemed like a natural fit.

"[We were] coming from the notion that improving your physical health can have great, great benefits towards your mental health and we saw this as an opportunity to work together. It was an opportunity, as well, to bring the whole community in on the subject," he said.

"We were incredibly grateful for the opportunity because, of course, they [the marathon] are approached by many different charities but they felt that this one in particular would have a resounding effect throughout our community."

Runners or walkers can make a donation while registering for the marathon.

Marathon weekends kicks off on Oct.16. The full marathon takes place on Oct. 18.