It was an emotional and upbeat morning at RBC Place on Friday as hundreds of people gathered to raise money for a London, Ontario charity that helps young people deal with homelessness. mental healthPhysical challenges and other issues.
friday is the 17th anniversary breakfast for youSignature Fundraiser for Youth Opportunities Unlimited (You). It was also the first time that attendees gathered in person for the event since 2019 when the event was held virtually following the pandemic.
Organizers said last year’s event raised more than $100,000 for You.
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Cheyenne VanderWudee served as the event’s feature speaker. She is a former client of YOU who now volunteers with the non-profit in hopes of helping other youth going through the same journey as hers.
In his remarks, VanderWudee reflected on the trauma of his childhood and adolescence.
Originally from Florida, VanderWude watched her mother go through many abusive relationships from a young age. VanderWudee also faced a series of incidents that made him fear abandonment.
She moved to Canada when she was nine and was the victim of a violent sexual assault at age 13. She says she points to that incident as the primary influence on her mental health in her later years.
Afterwards, VanderWudee says she began self-harming and experiencing “severe outbursts” before being placed in behavioral classes. She recalls being labeled as a “bad kid” and a “troublemaker” who was angry and confused, despite being just a teenager.
VanderWude talked about a time during class when she wrote what was supposed to be her last letter before driving to a nearby highway to throw herself into oncoming traffic. Before she could do so, a worker in the classroom pinned her to the ground, and VanderWudee says it was the first time she felt unconditional love.
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Vanderwoudee was eventually diagnosed with bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder and began seeking treatment before her family decided to move to London after another traumatic event.
At the age of 16, Vanderwood ran away from home and lived on the streets of the city before finding a safe place in AAP. As she warmed to the nonprofit organization, Vanderwoude found not only a place to live, but also the skills, training and support to help her take charge of her life.
A series of ups and downs followed, but Vanderwoude was eventually able to seek further help, pursue a passion in photography, find the love of her life, and form a family, while the AAP staff served as “personal cheerleaders”. Did.
She now runs a successful photography business called Cheyenne Creations and is currently enrolled at Humber College where she is pursuing her real estate license.
VanderWudee says she prefers to view her life in chapters, referring to her current life as “360 chapters”.
“This is the chapter in my life where I’m really able to speak on (my journey), I can re-live it many times, but know that it’s really going to give other people the insight that is needed from the community,” VanderWudee told Global News.
Looking back, VanderWudee says the best thing about you is that it gives people what they need, without them asking. She misses an appointment with a staff member who gave her a strip of bus tickets after learning that she relied on public transportation, a significant gift given Vanderwoode’s financial situation at the time.
“As a youth, I remember we didn’t want to be bullied or make people feel like we were taking advantage of the system,” Vanderwoude said.
“Unfortunately, the system is a little broken and the organization helps fill in the gaps where it was broken. So I just kept going back every now and then and the door is always open for you.
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Looking ahead, VanderWude has high hopes for you, which has grown steadily since its launch as a small team in 1982.
One of the biggest projects on the horizon is the much-anticipated Joan Place, named after Joan Smith, a former city councillor, MPP and the province’s first female solicitor general, whom you describe as a “trailblazer and a tireless champion for women.” describe as. Dalit’s
A rendering of the upcoming Zone Place facility at Richmond and York Streets.
Supplied by Youth Opportunities Unlimited
The 55,000-square-foot facility at the corner of Richmond and York Streets will have 39 affordable housing units and a youth wellness center offering in-house services and programs for young people, including mental health, addictions, employment and training.
The construction began last year and is expected to be completed by mid to late 2024.
“It’s looking bright,” Vanderwoudee says of the future of your youth.
VanderWude said, “If it took me 15 years to get to where I am today, it may only take five years for these young people now because of the programs we’re building and the fundraising we’re doing. “
“It’s going to be fast tracking these kids and they need it.”
— With files from Global’s Matthew Trevithick
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