My mom passed away when I was 24. My life seemed to stop in it’s tracks. What was interesting, important and joyful before just didn’t seem to matter anymore. I was having a hard time getting up in the morning to get to work. I was not dealing with my grief well. I knew I needed help and I was lucky enough to find Bereaved Families Of Ontario – Toronto.
I met with another young adult who had also lost her mom. I can’t tell you how important it was to talk to someone who “got it”. I had a lot of supports in my life, but until you go through it, you really don’t know what to do or say. My family were all trying to deal with my mom’s death the best way they could, so we couldn’t support eachother. I finally got a chance to just be heard.
I participated in a young adult group where 6 of us came and met with 2 amazing facilitators. We all told our stories and talked about how we were feeling, what we were doing, how we were getting support. It was such an incredible experience to look around a room and see 7 pairs of eyes look at you and know exactly what you were talking about. With BFO I learned how to live with my grief. I learned that I could still honour my mom, miss her but I could still live and find joy again. Without this organization, I honestly don’t know where I would be today.
It has been 13 years since my mom died. I think of her everday and hope that she would be proud of all the things that I’m doing with my life. One of the things that I can do to honour her is give back to an organization that did so much for me. And so our 12 Hour Boot Camp Relay in support of Bereaved Families of Ontario-Toronto was born.
You can help us make a difference to someone who has lost a loved one by supporting this event. Read on to see what it’s all about and how you can help.
12 Hour Boot Camp Relay – Saturday, May 7, 2011 – 7 am – 7 pm
We have 12 hours of workouts planned, but you don’t have to be there for 12 hours!!!
- Create a team of 4 or register on your own and meet new friends.
- 1 person from each team is on the workout floor at all times for 12 hours.
- You decide how you want to split your workout time to suit your schedule
- Food & refreshments are provided throughout the day
- ALL fitness levels welcome – ANYONE can participate
- Prizes are awarded throughout the day and to the highest fundraisers
- All pledges raised go to BFO-Toronto.
- Team registration is $75.00, individual is $25.00 – team registrations waived for teams raising over $1,000.00 for BFO-Toronto
If you can’t participate in the day but would like to support the event, here are other ways you can help:
- make a donation
- supply some food/refreshments
- provide prizes
- supply coupons or samples for our participant bags
There are tons of ways to help out. If you’re interested in participating or helping in anyway email us at info@bodybyubootcamp.com.
Head to www.bodybyubootcamp.com/special-events.html for registration & pledge forms or for the link to make a donation.
Thank you for helping us make a difference.
Ally
Hi Ally,
Reading your blog, I am reminded that I have both experienced the sting of grief of losing a parent, and know too the battle that many of my university students go through – so many of them having lost loved ones while they themselve are so young – in their twenties when life seems indispensible. Your story has inspired me to reach out to those students to remind them that there are supports out there. I had a young mom, only 28 years old, lose her husband in a tragic car accident just a year or so ago. She is still battling the demons of grief and, although individual counselling has helped, I will remind her through your story that there are important groups out there like BFO that can reach deeply to the root of grief alongside others. I will mark the date, May 7, and will try to get a team together for this great cause. Thanks for providing the venue for the spirit of fitness with the realities of living life. DCP
By: Darlene Ciuffetelli Parker on March 3, 2011
at 7:43 pm
Hi Darlene,
Thanks for reaching out to students you know who are dealing with a loss. They will appreciate it more than you know. It can be such an isolating experience. Will love having you be a part of this event. It’s going to be a truly powerful event. Here’s to celebrating life!
By: tabc on March 7, 2011
at 1:18 pm