Do It For Daron at the Nines

Burlington’s Best Sports Bar Plays its Part in Helping Raise Awareness on Youth Mental Health

The Nines Brick Bar will be serving up something very unique for Burlington residents come early August.

You see, the popular establishment, hailed as ‘Burlington’s Best Sports Bar,’ is hosting a fundraising event for Ashley Gilbank, who is inline skating across Canada in order to raise awareness on youth mental health. Gilbank’s journey began in St. John’s, Newfoundland on June 4 and later this summer she will wrap up her 10,000 km trek in Mile Zero, British Columbia.

On August 2, 2012, she will skate through Burlington and the Nines Brick Bar wants as many people out in support Skate4life campaign.

The Nines Brick Bar will host the fundraising event for Gilbank from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM (1235 Fariview Street). All proceeds from the event will go towards Gilbank’s Skae4life campaign which raises awareness and funds for DIFD (Do It For Daron) Fund at the Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health. The fund is in honour of Daron Richardson who committed suicide two years ago. She was only 14 years old.

Gilbank too lost her own very close friend who had been hit by a car while jogging one night in February 2011. Gilbank learned of the news of her friend’s death shortly after watching the opening ceremony of an Ottawa Senator’s game where the CBC (Hockey Night in Canada) formally recognized youth mental illness and the DIFD Fund. Since then Gilbank has always connected her friend’s passing with the DIFD Fund. Soon after this, Gilbank began researching suicide among athletes and suicide among youth.

“I launched Skate4life because I wanted to help and make a difference,” says Gilbank. “I want to play my part in transforming youth mental health.”

She adds, “I am elated that the Nines Brick Bar in Burlington is stepping up to the plate and hosting a big fundraising event for the DIFD Fund. It means so much to me and it means so much for Daron’s family. Transforming mental health requires leadership and openness and I applaud the Nines Brick Bar for caring, making a difference and helping such a great cause. Mental Health among youth exists and this event will inspire new conversations and raise awareness to such important issue that is so close to my heart.”

Randy Ferguson, Co-Owner of the Nines Brick Bar says that helping erase the negative stigma involving mental health among youth is important for our society.

“When we heard about Gilbanks campaign to skate across Canada we just had to reach out and play our part,” says Ferguson. “The more people are talking about mental health will of course raise awareness and more importantly will reduce the amount of suicides among youth. No one should feel alone and ashamed of they have a mental health problem. The more we do now only builds a better tomorrow for youth.”

Gilbank will be available for media interviews at the Fundraising event on August 2. She will also be joined by members of her team who are supporting her in her journey across Canada.

To learn more about Skate4life and the DIFD Fund, please visit: www.doitfordaron.com (http://www NULL.doitfordaron NULL.com).