What's Happening in Newmarket, ON…

An upcoming charity event will look to raise money to support mental health for women during and after pregnancy, just in time for Mother’s Day.

The event is named Flora’s Walk, after a young mother who tragically died while experiencing postpartum psychosis in early 2022. Funds raised will go towards the Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative, which campaigns for greater mental health support for new mothers and a national perinatal mental health strategy. Participants will walk or run a distance around Newmarket’s Fairy Lake. Charity walks and runs such as this typically ask participants to gather pledges from friends and family, sometimes using brochure printing and websites to help explain the cause.

Flora’s Walk is organized by Aurora mother Kelly Hassanpour, who herself experienced mental health issues after giving birth. The first edition of the walk was held in 2022 and was a major success, raising approximately $75,000 for the CPMHC. This year’s event seeks to double that number, and will coincide with World Maternal Mental Health Day. Participants are encouraged to sign up as groups, with one member designated as a Walk Leader, and share their exercise progress on social media, or to complete the walk at a time and place which is more convenient for them.

The second annual Flora’s Walk will take place on the morning of May 3, starting at the Water Street bridge.