My WalkToGetBetter Story
My name is Patrick Chaisson, and WalkToGetBetter started during one of the darkest chapters of my life.
I was struggling with my mental health, addiction, and thoughts that I didn’t know how to deal with. There were moments when I honestly didn’t know where my life was going. One of those moments changed everything.
I decided to walk.
At first, I wasn’t trying to start a movement. I wasn’t trying to become an advocate. I just needed something that could give me a reason to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
That first walk became 395 kilometres.
What started as me trying to help myself became something much bigger. People started talking to me along the way. I heard stories from strangers about their own struggles with mental health, addiction, loss and suicide.
That’s when I realized something:
People are hurting, but so many of us are afraid to talk about it.
So I kept walking.
The following year, I set out again, determined to reach 400 kilometres. I wanted to push myself further while raising awareness and money for mental-health services.
Last year, the money raised was donated to CAMH, and this year my goal is to do the same.
But WalkToGetBetter isn’t just about fundraising.
It’s about the conversations that happen along the way.
It’s about handing someone a card with walktogetbetter.ca on it and knowing that maybe, just maybe, that card could reach someone at the exact moment they need help.
It’s about telling people that asking for help isn’t weakness.
And it’s about being honest about my own journey.
I’ve made mistakes. I’ve struggled. I’ve fallen backwards. I’ve had to face things about myself that weren’t easy to admit.
But I’m still here.
And I’m still walking.
Now I’m preparing for the 3rd Annual WalkToGetBetter, and I’m carrying everything I’ve learned from the first two journeys with me.
I’m not walking because I have all the answers.
I’m walking because I know what it’s like to need someone to tell you that there is still a reason to take another step.
If my story can help even one person feel less alone, then every kilometre is worth it.
This isn’t just my walk anymore.
It’s for everyone who’s struggling in silence.
It’s for the people who feel like they’re not enough.
It’s for the families affected by mental illness and addiction.
It’s for the people we’ve lost.
And it’s for anyone who needs a reminder that their story isn’t over.
My name is Patrick Chaisson.
This is my story.
This is WalkToGetBetter.
And I’m still taking that next step.
My achievements
Self Donated
Shared Page
Returning Participant
Raised 50% of goal
Reached Goal
My updates
WALKTOGETBETTER 2024
Friday 14th AugShare@walktogetbetter 🚶♂️💜 3rd Annual WalkToGetBetter 💜🚶♂️ This year, I’m walking 400+ km over 11 days to help raise awareness for mental health and remind people that they are not alone. Every step is for someone struggling, someone healing, someone who feels lost, and everyone who needs a little hope. Sometimes a simple wave, honk, smile, or kind word can mean more than we realize. ❤️ This journey is about turning pain into purpose, starting conversations, supporting one another, and showing that even one person can make a difference. If you’re struggling, keep going. Better days can be ahead. 💜 Follow the journey and walk with me from wherever you are. 🚶♂️ #WalkToGetBetter #MentalHealthAwareness #MentalHealthMatters #YouAreNotAlone #YouMatter
♬ original sound - WalkToGetBetter
WALKTOGETBETTER
Friday 14th AugWhy I’m Raising Funds for CAMH: The Story Behind the 3rd Annual WalkToGetBetter
By Patrick Chaisson
WalkToGetBetter
There’s a reason I keep walking.
For me, WalkToGetBetter has never been just about putting one foot in front of the other or seeing how many kilometres I can complete. It started from some of the darkest moments of my life and has grown into something much bigger than I ever imagined.
This year, I’m preparing for the 3rd annual WalkToGetBetter — a 400 km journey dedicated to mental-health awareness, ending stigma, and raising funds for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).
Why CAMH?
I’m raising money for CAMH because mental health and addiction are issues that have personally affected my life.
I know what it’s like to struggle behind closed doors. I know what it feels like when things become overwhelming and you don’t know where to turn. I also know that asking for help can be one of the hardest things a person can do.
CAMH provides care, education, research and support for people dealing with mental-health and addiction challenges. Supporting an organization like CAMH is one way I can turn my own experiences into something that may help someone else.
Last year, the money raised through my GoFundMe campaign was donated to CAMH. This year, I want to do it again.
The Walk Is About More Than 400 Kilometres
When people hear that I’m walking 400 km, they might think the challenge is simply physical.
But every kilometre represents something more.
It represents the people who are struggling silently.
It represents families who don’t know how to help someone they love.
It represents people battling addiction.
It represents people who have felt hopeless.
And it represents anyone who has ever been afraid to say:
“I’m not okay.”
I want people to know that saying those words doesn’t make you weak.
It makes you human.
Breaking the Stigma
One of the biggest reasons I continue doing WalkToGetBetter is to help change the way we talk about mental health.
For too long, people have been told to “toughen up,” “get over it,” or keep their problems to themselves.
I don’t believe that’s the answer.
Mental health deserves the same kind of attention and compassion that we give physical health.
We need to be able to talk about depression, addiction, anxiety, suicide and other mental-health struggles without immediately feeling ashamed or judged.
The more we talk, the more we can break the stigma.
The Cards Have a Purpose Too
Along the journey, I’ll also be continuing something that has become an important part of WalkToGetBetter: handing out cards with information and resources.
The goal is simple.
Someone might take a card and never need it.
But someone else might be struggling that day and find a resource that helps them take the next step.
Sometimes you never know whose life you might touch with a simple conversation, a kind word or a card.
I’m Not Walking Because I Have All the Answers
I want to be honest about something.
I’m not walking because I’ve figured everything out.
I’m walking because I know what it’s like to struggle.
I know that getting better isn’t always a straight line. There can be good days, bad days, setbacks and moments when you wonder if things will ever change.
But I believe there is always a reason to keep taking the next step.
And that’s what WalkToGetBetter means to me.
Not perfection.
Progress.
Help Me Make Every Step Count
My goal this year is to raise funds for CAMH while continuing to spread awareness across Ontario.
You don’t have to walk 400 km with me.
You don’t have to donate a large amount.
Even sharing this story can help.
If you can donate, thank you.
If you can share the campaign, thank you.
If you’re someone struggling right now, I hope you remember that you don’t have to face everything alone.
This journey started with my own struggles, but I want it to become something that helps other people with theirs.
400 km. One step at a time. One conversation at a time. One person at a time.
Let’s end the stigma.
Let’s WalkToGetBetter.
Learn more about the journey:
walktogetbetter.ca
Every dollar raised through this year’s campaign will be directed toward the goal of supporting CAMH, just as it was last year.
Thank you to my donors
$5.30
