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Media Wall News > Society > Grande Prairie Teen Nears End of Alberta Mental Health Awareness Run
Society

Grande Prairie Teen Nears End of Alberta Mental Health Awareness Run

Daniel Reyes
Last updated: June 26, 2025 10:00 PM
Daniel Reyes
3 weeks ago
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Grande Prairie’s local hero Nathan Friesen is days away from completing an extraordinary journey that has already changed lives across the province.

The 17-year-old student stepped back onto familiar Grande Prairie ground yesterday, greeted by dozens of supporters as his 1,000-kilometer mental health awareness run enters its final stages. The reception in his hometown offered a powerful moment of recognition for a journey that began over two months ago.

“I honestly didn’t expect this many people to come out,” Friesen told supporters gathered at Muskoseepi Park. “When I started this run, it was just about making a difference. Now I see it’s become something much bigger than me.”

Friesen’s “Steps for Strength” campaign has raised over $217,000 for Alberta mental health services while traversing communities from Medicine Hat to Peace River. The funds will support youth counseling programs and crisis intervention services across the province.

The initiative was born from personal tragedy. Friesen lost his older brother to suicide in 2023, a devastating event that motivated him to address what he calls “the silence around mental health struggles.”

“My brother was the strong one, the one everyone thought had it together,” Friesen explained, his voice occasionally breaking. “But that’s exactly the point – you never really know what someone’s going through unless we create space for these conversations.”

Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton joined yesterday’s welcome celebration, presenting Friesen with a certificate of recognition for his advocacy work. “What Nathan has accomplished reminds us that meaningful change often starts with one person’s courage,” Clayton said. “His determination has inspired communities across Alberta.”

The Alberta Mental Health Foundation reports that youth mental health service requests have increased by 43% since 2019, according to their spring 2025 assessment. Rural communities face particular challenges, with many reporting wait times of 4-6 months for specialized services.

Dr. Mariam Khalil, clinical psychologist and board member for the foundation, has been following Friesen’s journey. “The funds Nathan’s raising will directly impact service availability in underserved regions,” she explained. “But equally important is how he’s normalized talking about mental health struggles in communities where stigma remains powerful.”

Throughout his journey, Friesen has stopped at 23 schools to share his story with students. Teachers report that these visits have led to noticeable increases in students seeking support through school counseling services.

“After Nathan visited our school in Red Deer, we saw a 30% increase in students reaching out for help,” said Teresa McGonigal, school counselor at Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School. “His message that strength means asking for help really resonated.”

The physical toll of running approximately 20 kilometers daily for two months has been substantial. Friesen works with a physiotherapist who volunteers time each week to help manage the strain. Despite developing tendonitis in his right knee near Edmonton, he has maintained his schedule.

“Some days are definitely harder than others,” he admitted. “But then I’ll get a message from someone saying they finally talked to their parents about what they’re going through, and suddenly the pain doesn’t matter so much.”

Local businesses have rallied to support the final leg of Friesen’s journey. Grande Prairie’s Northside Athletic Club has provided recovery sessions, while several restaurants have donated meals for his support team.

Linda Halverson, who lost her daughter to suicide in 2022, drove from Fort McMurray to walk alongside Friesen for a day. “What he’s doing gives meaning to our losses,” she said. “It’s turning grief into purpose.”

The run concludes this Saturday at Peace River, where mental health advocates from across northern Alberta will gather for a community celebration. The Alberta government recently announced it will match donations made during the final week of Friesen’s campaign, potentially pushing the total raised beyond $300,000.

Provincial Health Minister Thomas Reid acknowledged the impact of Friesen’s campaign during last week’s legislative session. “This young man has done more to advance mental health awareness in rural Alberta than many of our formal programs,” Reid stated. “His work reminds us that policy must be informed by lived experience.”

As Friesen prepares for the final stretch, he remains focused on the message rather than the mileage. “This was never about the running, really,” he reflected while resting at his family home. “It’s about showing people they’re not alone, that there’s no shame in struggling, and that help is worth seeking.”

For Grande Prairie, a community that has faced its own mental health challenges, Friesen’s journey represents something profoundly important: hope walking home, one step at a time.

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TAGGED:Fundraising CampaignGrande PrairieMental Health AwarenessPrévention du suicidesanté mentale des aînésSuicide Prevention InfrastructureYouth Advocacy
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ByDaniel Reyes
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Investigative Journalist, Disinformation & Digital Threats

Based in Vancouver

Daniel specializes in tracking disinformation campaigns, foreign influence operations, and online extremism. With a background in cybersecurity and open-source intelligence (OSINT), he investigates how hostile actors manipulate digital narratives to undermine democratic discourse. His reporting has uncovered bot networks, fake news hubs, and coordinated amplification tied to global propaganda systems.

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