Pharmaprix Run for Women series to come to Quebec City

QUEBEC CITY, Quebec — Shoppers Drug Mart, which operates under the Pharmaprix banner in Quebec, has announced that Canada's first and only national women's and girl's running race series expanded to six cities.



The Pharmaprix Run for Women Series consists of a 5K, 10K and Little Steps Girls 1K, and includes a motivational talk from an iconic Canadian Olympian in each city. A portion of proceeds and participant donations will go towards women's mental health programs in each of the six race cities.



The events kicked off on June 22 in Unionville, Ontario, and continued throughout the summer into September. In addition to Unionville (June 22), Vancouver (July 13) and Calgary (July 27), runs were in Halifax (Aug. 10) and Ottawa (Aug. 24). A run will be held in Quebec City on Sept. 21.

Five-time Paralympian, Chantal Petitclerc, is the featured speaker in Quebec City.  She will speak to girls and women about being active and how they can succeed in the goals they set.



Other speakers included five-time Olympian Hayley Wickenheiser, (Vancouver), Gold and Silver Medalist Jennifer Heil (Unionville and Calgary) and Gold medalist and Women's World Cup Rugby Leading Scorer, Heather Moyse (Halifax).



The event in Quebec City will support Fondation de l'Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Québec.



According to l'Institut de la statistique du Québec, 27% of women, aged 15 and older, have lived with a mental disorder at one time in their live. Major depression is the leading cause.



Postpartum depression affects about 20% of new mothers, 10% of women also will suffer from depression during pregnancy, not to mention that 1-out-of-1,000 will face a psychosis symptom during this period. Dr. Marie-Josée Poulin is familiar with these women. She is the leader of the only perinatal psychiatric clinic in the province based at l'Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Québec. Each year, Poulin follows between 300 and 350 women from the moment when they wish to have a baby until the child's second birthday.



Other sponsors include Moving Comfort who will be offering bra-fitting clinics at Running Room stores leading up to each event.