Crossing the Grand Canyon

CROSSING THE CANYON FOR MENTAL HEALTH, SEPT 14 – 17, 2013

Six “Plus 60” individuals from the Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren Church in Winnipeg are preparing to hike through the Grand Canyon this September and raise funds for Eden Health Care Services. The members of the hike are Anne and Jerry Friesen, Dave Loewen, John Janzen, John Pankratz and John Unger.  Grace and Bill Martens, Grace Loewen, Ruth Janzen, Pat Pankratz and Merril Unger will make the trip with the hikers as their support team. The hikers will carry their own food, water and other essentials for the 4 day hike through the Canyon, so the excursion involves navigating uneven terrain in hot weather with backpack loads of 14 – 22 kilograms. The Grand Canyon of the Colorado River is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and the difference of elevation from the North Rim to the bottom is more than one mile.

Eden Health Care Services is a faith-based organization rooted in the Anabaptist Mennonite heritage. The mission of Eden is to respond to the community by providing a range of services that will empower persons with mental health needs.  Funds raised will be receipted by Eden Foundation and designated for the new Winnipeg Housing Initiative that is scheduled for construction beginning this September.  Funds in excess of the requirements for the Winnipeg Housing Initiative will continue to be used in other Eden Housing projects.

The Eden Winnipeg Housing Initiative is a joint venture for a new 45 unit apartment building in Winnipeg that will provide safe affordable homes for families and adults having difficulty finding housing, including those with mental health issues. The building will be located on the existing Concordia Housing campus on Molson Street. Eden Health Care Services will operate the facility and funding of $11,102,588 has been secured from the Governments of Manitoba and Canada. Crossing the Canyon for Mental Health will seek to make a significant contribution toward Eden’s project fund commitment of $40,000.

Eden Health Care Services is soliciting donations for this quality and affordable housing project. Providing a safe home is essential to good mental health. For a charitable receipt, donations should be made out to Eden Foundation – Winnipeg Housing Initiative.

For more information, contact the participants or the Eden offices. Further information is also available at Eden’s website.

Eden Health Care Services, 309 Main Street, Winkler, Manitoba  R6W 4A4                       www.edenhealthcare.ca           Ph. 204 -325-5355