Image from hopeinthedarkness.ca

By Chris Brown

For mental health

Hope in the Darkness walk reaches Medicine Hat

Aug 26, 2020 | 4:53 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – A walk that began in Winnipeg at the Human Rights Museum on July 15 reached Medicine Hat on Wednesday.

Hope in the Darkness founder Kevin Redsky is planning to end his Walk for Youth Mental Health in Vancouver in the middle of October after 90 days on the road.

His story and reasons for the walk are both personal and professional.

Seven years ago, Redsky lost a 16-year-old niece to suicide.

“Losing her is the true inspiration behind the Hope in the Darkness Walk,” he said.

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Professionally, Redsky has 16 years’ experience as a police officer. He says he witnessed “daily the frustrations when it comes to all mental health really, but youth mental health in particular.”

He says he’s seen first-hand the lack of resources for youth struggling with mental health issues and wants to challenge the system.

Those experiences are why Redsky is challenging and encouraging police to “send a message of hope and empowerment to our youth.”

Redsky said the walk through Saskatchewan was a bit of a struggle with the heat and the flat landscape, but the walk did pick up steam and support from law enforcement. That’s continued into Cypress County and the city.

“The relationships with police have been amazing. We’ve been literally walking the talk here the last few days,” he said. “More needs to be done and we’re pretty pleased how far we’ve come so far but there’s so much work to do.”

For more information on the walk visit the Hope in the Darkness website.