Nearly $160,000 was raised at the inaugural Chat4Chad gala and fundraiser over the weekend.
On Saturday, community members gathered to honour Chad Ringler, a North Bay firefighter who lost his battle to mental illness in January of this year. The money will go to the new outpatient WRAP fund at the North Bay Regional Hospital’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit and Acute Inpatient Psychiatric Unit.
Wade Ringler, Chad’s brother, says there are a lot of people who are suffering, and the community support speaks to the person Chad was, and the need to do more and do better.
“This fund’s going to support a wide range of things for these kids,” said Wade. “As simple as gym memberships, prescriptions, eyewear. Anything these kids need we’re going to look at it and be flexible in what we can do, and hopefully fill the gaps that exist now and get these kids the things they need to be successful once they leave the hospital.”
Wade says his family is appreciative of the support. He says they will build on this event, and continue to raise funds and support those people who need it.
“The thing with mental health, it affects everybody,” he says. “It doesn’t discriminate against certain classes, certain people, your lifestyle, or your job, It affects everyone in different ways. No one’s immune to it. Unfortunately, it’s something we all have to deal with, no matter how it may look like on the outside. There’s battles being fought that no one knows about. it’s important that these people have the support and resources that are needed to get through it.”
