Dear Andrew,

As your 1^st year “Angel Date” draws ever so near

11 months 29 days worth of mornings I wake up still not believing you’re not here

That December night, I live over and over, not remembering the snow or even the cold

For the tears were the snowflakes and the cold that I felt was deep within

You were only 23 years old

When I feel my heart breaking in two

One side for your brother and one side for you

That’s when your spirit and energy show me, you’re everlasting and near

I love you forever Andrew, I will love you always my dear

So that’s why I promise as long as on this earth I belong

That I will do everything within my power to help you live on

Just as the stars are not visible in the light of the day

We still know they exist and we’ll see them again in some way

I miss you everyday

Andrew

Love always and forever,

Mom

Just want to let everyone know that, by request we are having the 2^nd Annual Andrew Dunn Memorial Walk/Run on Saturday, May 10^th, 2008 (Andrew’s 25^th Birthday).

If you are interested in volunteering or attending you can email Brenda at balinski@mts.net  or call (204) 444-5771 or phone Judy at 444-3536, as we are hoping to set up a committee after the holidays.

For those of you who are interested in lighting a candle in honour of all children who have died, please read the following that was in Compassionate Friends’ Newsletter.

On December 9/2007 World Wide Candle Lighting – 7:00 p.m. in all time zones.

Everyone in every time zone around the world is invited to light a candle in honour of all children who have died, that their light may always shine.

As candles go out in one time zone, they will be lit in the next, creating a wave of light that will encircle the globe.

Visit the TCF/USA website, www.compassionatefriends.org on that day and share your thoughts on their memorial page, as you light your candles and observe this quiet time.

Community support enables battle against mental illness to continue

Bird’s Hill Park Ranch now has a tree and granite memorial stone honouring the young man who, through his battle with depression, inspired the Andrew Dunn Foundation.

Judy Dunn and Brenda Balinski handed over a cheque to the HSC Foundation, money raised through the first-ever Andrew Dunn Memorial Walk/Run (above, right). Pictured are, from left: Judy Dunn, Brenda Balinski, Robert Dunn, and F. Lynn Bishop.

Brenda Balinski of the Andrew Dunn Foundation snapped these two photos of students receiving the foundations awards. Anjelique DaCosta (far left) was honoured at Springfield Collegiate Institute’s graduation ceremoney while Dani Petras took home the honours at Royal Elementary School in Charleswood.

They used to say behind every great man there’s a great woman and, although the expression has generally fallen from grace these days, there are still certain circumstances where no expression could possibly be more appropriate.
Ask anyone who knew and loved him and they’ll proudly tell you the late Andrew Dunn was a great man and his mother, Judy Dunn, holds an equally special place in many hearts. She stood behind her son establishing the Andrew Dunn Foundation and organizing the Andrew Dunn Memorial Walk. Working together with dear friend Brenda Balinski, the two were finally able to witness the first fruits of their labours over the past month.

“On June 20, we were delighted to hand the HSC Foundation a cheque for $13,465,” Dunn explained, noting the money was raised through the first annual Andrew Dunn Memorial Walk/Run earlier this year. “It was an emotional day, both elated at the success of our first effort and yet devastating at the knowledge of how it all came about. However, with my son Robert and my dear friend Brenda at my side, I made it through one more day and continue keeping my promise to Andrew.”

Dunn went on to detail some of the other work the Andrew Dunn Foundation has been doing, including awarding special honours to two exceptional students who are making a difference in their communities. One student was a Grade 6 graduate of Royal Elementary School in Charleswood, a school the Dunn family is very familiar with.

“We were able to award a sweet little girl, Dani Petras, a teddy bear with a gift certificate and a plaque for her caring and compassion towards her fellow classmates and others at the school - the same school that I attended, as well as Andrew and Robert,” Dunn explained. “Louise Burton, the boys’ Grade 1 teacher, was also in attendance to help present the award. An additional $100 cheque was also handed over to the guidance office and we are hoping to work with them to start an education and awareness program for students, as well as their parents and the teachers, on the devastating affects of depression and learning to spot the signs to successfully treat this disease.”

Balinski noted Petras accomplished a lot during her time at the school.

“Dani never gives up and works very hard. She is fully engaged in school activities, including all the sports and music activities.” Balinski explained. “She was a patrol and a member of the student leadership. She took the baby-sitting course and volunteered during school events to baby-sit small children.”

Less that 24 hours later, it was Anjelique DaCosta’s turn to receive the Andrew Dunn Foundation’s accolades.
“We attended Springfield Collegiate Institute’s graduation ceremony at the Winnipeg Convention Centre and, with Robert at my side and Brenda on camera duty, we were delighted to hand over a cheque for $500 and a plaque to Anjelique DaCosta,” Dunn explained. “The recipient of the award also met the criteria of being caring and compassionate to their fellow students and was chosen by the teachers.”

Balinski was equally impressed with DaCosta.

“Judy and I were both emotional when we heard as Anjelique has been dealing with depression and was brave and honest enough to talk to Manitoba Moments,” Balinski said. “Staff did not even know this. She is an amazing lady. She also helped us at the social by working the door all night with her family - actually, her entire family is amazing!”
Dunn said the emotional experience was only a tiny step but is overjoyed knowing all these tiny steps are moving her in the right direction. She went on to say the Andrew Dunn Foundation has agreed to participate in a radio-thon with the HSC Foundation in November and, also in the last few weeks, honoured Andrew with a special addition to Bird’s Hill Park.

“We just planted Andrew’s tree at the Bird’s Hill Park Ranch, along with a beautiful granite memorial marker donated by Cropo Funeral Chapel,” Dunn said. “The ranch is the location we have decided to go with for our annual walk so as to properly accommodate walkers, joggers, and bicycles, roller blades, even dog walkers, as well as horseback and buggies. With these wonderful facilities in our area, it would be a shame not to take full advantage of them every year.”
The work is satisfying for Dunn and everyone else involved with the Andrew Dunn Foundation but little means more than community support.

“After the SCI ceremony on June 27, I came home with so many feelings, emotions, and thoughts running through me only to have one more moment of tears,” Dunn began. “A lovely young woman came to my door and handed us a generous donation from the Hazelridge Women’s Ball Hockey Team and, yes, we will continue to take any and all donations, great or small, on behalf of the Andrew Dunn Memorial Fund because the battle has only just begun.”

Photos and story by Ryan Crocker, copyright SUN MEDIA

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail”

Great tufts of soft, white poplar seeds lined the winding roads of Birds Hill Park last Sunday like countless tiny angels cheering on participants in the first annual Andrew Dunn Memorial Walk.

It was an event that attracted hundreds with a desire to tame mental illness - some struggling in silence themselves, others working tirelessly for a relative or friend, and still more continuing the battle in memory of a loved one. For a few hours on Mothers’ Day, though, they were all fighting together. All of them.

“I believe that Andrew wouldn’t have liked all this fuss with his name attached when he was alive, but we know that he was at the walk, we know that he approves of what we are doing” explained Judy Dunn, his mother. Andrew, though an intelligent, handsome, and popular young man, battled depression for years, and eventually disappeared behind the disease’s devastating symptoms. On Dec. 12, 2006, he made a final choice the love ones he left behind know in their hearts he’d never have made otherwise - he took his own life.

“Things have happened, coincidences - and things that should have never worked out came together with no real explanation. We know that he approves of what we are doing to help bring depression out of the shadows and, hopefully, help others to find other options available to them… it is our job to get rid of the stigma so others can come forward for help and find it.”

It’s difficult for Judy, who is still carrying some of the pieces of her life in her arms following the devastation mental illness brought into her family, into her heart. However, she doesn’t have to do it alone - and never will as long as Brenda Balinski is around.

“I have to tell you that if it was not for Brenda, with all her hard work and great skills, neither the social that allowed us to put on the walk nor the walk would have taken place this year, “ Judy said. “I could not have held up this soon after loosing Andrew. She also got AndrewDunn.org up and running, what a great job and wonderful friend. She won’t take the credit that she deserves but she really did all the work and don’t let her tell you otherwise.”

And, on Mothers’ Day, both women were able to enjoy the fruits of their labours. The first annual Andrew Dunn Memorial Walk inspired more than 200 people to walk, bicycle, or ride their horses - symbolic first steps in the Andrew Dunn Foundation’s battle to pull mental illness out of the darkness and do to it what it has done to far too many lives.

“We made about $15,000 from raffles, food, drinks, a 50/50 draw and sponsors from the walk. We are still collecting money and donations are still being accepted,” Brenda explained, noting she hopes people truly realize depression and mental illness are like any other diseases and need to be treated as best as possible. “The success of this walk means that we will now be able to make a difference. I hope that it has helped in some way to begin to remove the stigma of depression for some people - we have to start somewhere.”

What a start is was. Celebrity guest Ace Burpee, a Cook’s Creek native who hosts a popular radio show on Winnipeg’s Hot 103, stopped by to lead the enthusiastic crowd through a warm-up filled with laughter and cheer.

“I think Ace was great,” Brenda said. “I love that he did the warm-up and had everyone, including Judy and I, laughing. I already asked him if he would come back next year.”

Brenda was also struck by the family of another young person who lost their battle with mental illness.

Memorial Walk

Wearing t-shirts that said “For the love of Kaitlyn, get help when you need it”, they were a sight to behold.

“Wow….it was hard not to cry when reading it and seeing her beautiful young face. I told the family how beautiful it was. I want to do the same next year for Andrew.”

Another highlight for Judy was seeing her son Robert, joined by friends of Andrew’s, at the event.

“That meant an awful lot to me - poor Robert has to put up with all my love now,” she joked.

And then they all set out through Birds Hill Park, along roads lined with drifts of poplar seeds - as even more fluffy puffs of white weaved through the trees lifted by the wind.

Wind isn’t the only invisible force with the power to lift. The force that inspires Judy and Brenda to continue the battle, that motivates dozens and dozens of people to participate in a memorial walk, that empowers the Andrew Dunn Foundation - whatever you call it - has the power to lift people out of the dark depths of mental illness. It’s a power the foundation plans to put to good use.

If you are interested in making a donation or helping out in any way, don’t hesitate to call Brenda at 444-5771 or email her at balinski@mts.net. If you know what Judy and Brenda are going through, if you or someone in your life is struggling with depression and you need someone to talk to - Judy is a member of Compassionate Friends, a support group, and she’s more than willing to share a conversation. Just call 444-3536.

Photos and story by Ryan Crocker, copyright SUN MEDIA