A million small steps for a Saskatoon woman, one giant leap for mental health
Frances Sreedhar has been logging some serious mileage in her goal to help others.
The Saskatoon woman is walking towards her goal of one million steps around the Meewasin trail system to raise awareness for mental health.
“I started to notice that I instantly felt that I had some stress reduction, I got a little bit more energy to get through the day and then the screen fatigue would disappear as I was looking farther away, and I would be very much in the moment,” she said.
What originally started as a way to get outside and improve her own mental health at the height of the pandemic has become a three-year journey as Sreedhar looks to achieve her million-step goal for the third year in a row.
“This became a sort of challenge,” she said.
After first thinking of a lofty goal, Sreedhar quickly broke down the large number into an achievable daily goal by walking 3,000 steps everyday for roughly 50 weeks.
Partnering with the Canadian Mental Health Association and the Meewasin Valley Authority was the next step as Sreedhar hopes to raise $10,000, or one cent for every step she takes, with the funds going to both organizations.
“Fran is a very inspired woman,” CMHA Saskatoon branch executive director Faith Bodnar said.
“We know that the winter months from September to the end of April is a very difficult time for a lot of people. It's important just to step out of that and, and go outside (and) get a little bit of exercise.”
With five times as many people seeking out the organization in the first year of the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic levels, Bodnar says the “impacts of COVID-19 are still being felt today.” And with inflation remaining high throughout 2022, she says less people are donating to the CMHA.
“People have choices to make,” Bodnar said.
Meewasin Valley Authority’s Amy Wall says the trail system has seen a doubling of visitors over the pandemic, and as restrictions eased, even more people went outside to their local Meewasin trail.
“We've tracked this and it’s really shown that people have gotten out and they haven't gone back indoors,” she said. “Our numbers are continuing to go up with 2022 seeing 2.32 million visits to the trail system.”
As Sreedhar hopes to walk 5 million steps in five years, she’s hoping her initiative can eventually grow to include plenty more people.
“I would love to see it become an annual event where more people are joining or more people are gathering sponsorships and we're just raising money for good local organizations that need some support,” she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.