Mental illness doesn’t always look like a crisis. Sometimes, it can be quiet. It lingers, overstaying its welcome.
For Tracy, anxiety has been around for as long as he can remember—a constant hum in the background.
“Whatever caused it—trauma, family, genetics—doesn’t matter much,” he says. “What matters is that it’s always there. It’s heavy and exhausting.”
Tracy’s mind races, spiraling into worst-case scenarios. Small stressors inflate into something much bigger: overthinking, panic, dread. It wears him down, even when everything seems fine on the surface. “I catastrophize a lot,” he admits. “And while I live with anxiety, I’ve had to find ways to live beyond it.”
For Tracy, discovering running was a lifeline in managing his anxiety.
Making every mile matter
In 2017, while training for a marathon for Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend, he began fundraising for The Royal. He knew he could make an impact on patient care and research. His fundraising also honoured of someone close to his heart: Helen O’Brien, a family friend who spent more than 50 years working at The Royal.
“Mental illness doesn’t get the attention it needs because of stigma,” he says. “I wanted to change that and The Royal seemed like the place to start.”
Over the years, Tracy has raised more than $70,000 for The Royal—running not just for himself, but for people who are desperately trying to reclaim their lives from mental illness and addiction. “I’m lucky,” he says. “I have family and friends—access to support when I need it. Not everyone does. That’s why I run.”
Science behind every stride
At The Royal, treatment isn’t just about therapy and medications—it’s about the whole person. Factors like sleep, relationships, nutrition and physical activity are all important to help manage mental illness.
“Regular physical activity can be helpful for mood and anxiety symptoms, though developing this healthy habit can be difficult,” says Dr. Kelsey Collimore, a clinical psychologist and investigator in The Royal’s Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program. “Research suggests that exercise may increase the production of feel-good chemicals like endorphins, reduce stress hormones and enhance sleep quality. Physical activity may also help reduce patterns of withdrawal or avoidance, which can make mood and anxiety symptoms worse,” she says.
Tracy experiences the benefits firsthand. “Running helps me reset. It gives me space to breathe and stay ahead of the ambient stress,” he says. “It doesn’t make my anxiety disappear, but it helps me live with it.”
Survival becomes purpose
Today, Tracy runs as both a tool for survival and a way to give back. “I run because it helps me survive the hard days,” he says. “And now, I run so others can get the help they need, too.”
Fundraising for The Royal means more people have access to the treatments they need, when they need it—reclaiming more lives from mental illness.
Like so many with mental illness, Tracy will always live it. His anxiety is a part of who he is, but that doesn’t mean he can’t continue to move forward, one step at a time.
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Whether you host a fundraising event, or just create a donation page, your work improves access to care for those with mental illness and addiction, and support for their families. Thank you for standing with us.
It’s your turn to make an impact
One in four Canadians live with mental illness or addiction, but only one in fifteen actually get effective treatment. The time for change is now—join us.
