Revelstoke's Red Apple steps up to help fight addiction and mental illness

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Foundation is announcing a new partnership with Red Apple Stores Inc. making the chain of 156 Red Apple and The Bargain! Shop value stores the first national retailer to pledge their support for the camh Darkness to Light challenge to defeat mental illness.
“Red Apple Stores Inc. reached out to us early on in our campaign efforts,” the Foundaiton’s Senior Vice-president Caroline Riseboro said in a statement announcing the partnership. “We’re so glad they did. We are thrilled to partner with an organization so fully committed to supporting the communities across Canada in which they operate and who have demonstrated so much enthusiasm for the cause of mental health.”
On May 29, participants in the camh Darkness to Light will gather in their homes, workplaces, and favourite all-night diners reconnecting with friends and family and symbolically shining a light on mental illness and addiction. Leading up to the challenge night, participants are encouraged to talk openly about mental illness and addiction when asking family, friends, colleagues and neighbours to sponsor their efforts — an activity that CAMH advocates will help eliminate the stigma that surrounds mental illness and give those in need the courage to seek help.
All Red Apple and The Bargain! Shop stores will stay open until midnight on May 29 in support of the campaign. Revelstoke’s Red Appleis one 48 stores across Canasa to take on an extra challenge and stay open all night in support of camh Darkness to Light.
Special marketing activities and promotions are underway with a portion of proceeds to be donated to the camh Darkness to Light campaign. On May 29, from 9 pm to sunrise, stores will run an all-night special, offering $5 off any purchase of $25 or more. In addition, great deals on midnight munchies, DVD’s, crafts, books and other products will be in place. Every store across Canada is taking on the challenge, with a friendly competition underway between stores to raise the most money for CAMH.
“We have been the trusted neighbourhood store in small towns across Canada for over 20 years now and we are committed to supporting the communities where our Associates and customers live and work,” said Eric Claus, the chain’s president and CEO said in the statement. “We believe that mental health and addiction affects every one of us in some way and each of us has a story to tell. As a campaign to reduce the stigma associated with mental health and addiction and to improve access to treatment, camh Darkness to Light is a cause that we are proud to support.”
Money raised through camh Darkness to Light will help fund CAMH’s highest priority needs, including improving access to care, leading-edge research into new methods to treat and prevent mental illness and addiction, and education—projects that will promote improvements in mental health care in communities across the country.
To learn more and to participate in camh Darkness to Light please go www.darknesstolight.ca.