An 18-Year-Old Peterborough Transgender Male Launches Crowdfunding Surgery Campaign

An 18-year-old Peterborough transgender male named Kieran Kelly is female to male, pre-op. Kieran started testosterone on March 28th, 2013, marking the start of his physical transition.

Being on testosterone has increased Kieran's quality of life monumentally. Kieran is more confident, and happier all-around.

Picture of Kieran via GoFundMe campaign

The next step for Kieran in physical transition is top surgery to remove any extra breast tissue. The surgery and associated fees come to be about $10,000—something Kieran simply can't afford.

So Kieran has launched a GoFundMe campaign called "Kieran's Top Surgery Fund" in order to make this surgery possible. 

I'm raising money for Kieran's Top Surgery Fund. Click to Donate: http://t.co/wcpxEwdpkl via @gofundme

— Kieran Kelly (@shakieraan) June 12, 2015

Yes, Kieran says, this surgery may seem like something he can go without. But there are many important reasons he wants to make this surgery happen...

• Binding (wearing a chest-compression vest in order to hide any extra breast tissue) is incredibly dangerous and can result in respiratory problems, as well as back problems. Not to mention the fact that it just causes really awful back pain.

• Not having had top surgery means that Kieran can't participate in a lot of things that other people can. For example: Kieran can't go swimming, because wet binders aren't fun to wear and he has yet to find any effective trans-friendly swimwear.

• There is a male role in a musical in Peterborough that Kieran would absolutely love to audition for, but he has to be shirtless on stage at one point.

Most important, he says on the GoFundMe page, "it has a really negative effect on my mental health. Being this unhappy/uncomfortable with your body, and being held back from participating in things takes a really huge toll on your mental health. My happiness is compromised big time by it, and it's all just because I was given two X chromosomes instead of and X and a Y."

Learn more about Kieran's campaign here.

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A Group Called Impact Forms At Crestwood Where Students Can Discuss Anything

There is an emerging group at Crestwood called Impact that has a specific purpose—to create an atmosphere where students can support one another and discuss life topics that matter to you. "It was headed up by someone who moved away from Peterborough and the students involved have graduated apparently," Impact program coordinator Amy McAuley tells PTBOCanada, adding that she has a specific plan for where she wants to take it.

"My heart for some time has been to create a program that could be a form of peer support as well as provide an environment where they can discuss their biggest questions, fears and struggles," says Amy.

Image via Crestwood Facebook page

Impact has secured a room at Crestwood where they will meet every Monday at lunch for whoever wants to talk. In an eloquent note on their Impact website directed to the anonymous student (and others like them) who wrote our viral post "A Peterborough High School Student Has Something To Say", Impact are inviting others to reach out—and perhaps start chapters at their own schools.

"My aim for this group going forward and my desire is to see it become a source of hope and a constant reminder that they are not alone," says McAuley, an early childhood educator who is most passionate about programming of this nature and would love to do this full-time. "We have been working with a student to make arrangements to start this group up again (finding a teacher who would allow us the use of his/her room) and it just happened that everything fell in place to start up the Monday before the March Break."

After hearing of the Crestwood student's tragic death and reading the anonymous student's post, McAuley tells us she was left speechless—even more so after reading the statement made regarding the need of a group/club in the post on PTBOCanada. "It has affirmed the great need I believe there is for a place of understanding and support like this, where students can just be real and feel heard as they grapple with the issues of life. I am unaware of if there are such groups at other schools but we are more than willing to assist."

"I would be happy to bring it to other schools if they would like to have a group like this for students," says Amy.

McAuley is currently running Impact with the assistance of one other person, Tristin Haines. The next Crestwood group will meet together on March 23rd during lunch in room A213 after March break. 

***You can reach out to Impact here to learn more about the organization or to inquire about starting a chapter at your school. You can also follow them on Twitter @impactgrouptbo and on Facebook here.

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Citiots Improv Performing At Canadian Mental Health Association Golf Tourney

Citiots: Funny people

Citiots Improv Troupe—which we're a proud sponsor of—will be performing at the Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR) 9th Annual Healthy Minds – Healthy Life Golf Tournament sponsored by Herod Financial Services. The tourney takes place June 6th, at the Quarry Golf and Country Club in Ennismore. Registration is at 8:30 a.m. with a 10:30 a.m. shotgun start. Golfers can register as foursomes or as singles at a cost of $130 per person. This includes coffee and muffins at registration; lunch and dinner; complimentary driving range; prizes and contests. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For information on these opportunities or to register, contact Kerri Davies at 705-748-6687 ext. 1048 or by email here.

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PTBOCanada Pics & Coverage: Walk So Kids Can Talk For Kids Help Phone

On Sunday, May 4th, more than 50 people came to Nicholls Oval to participate in the 2014 Walk So Kids Can Talk in support of Kids Help Phone. This was the fourth year Peterborough hosted a walk site, and walkers raised about $15,000. The event saw representation from several organizations and individuals in the community, such as BMO, the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation and Team 55 Tackles Suicide Awareness. Counsellors at Kids Help Phone are there for youth 24/7/365, when they feel like there is no one else they can turn to. Check out pictures below from this special walk.  —photos & coverage by Beth McClelland

David Pogue of Team 55 and his grandson cut the blue ribbon to mark the official start of the walk and honour his son Mitchell

Adults, kids and pets alike take off for their first kilometer of the walk

Amazing walk for a great cause

 Team 55 gathers by the finish line at the end of the walk

Sharon from Checkers Entertainment Services facepaints two high school walk volunteers

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Read What Clara Hughes' Talk On Mental Health In Peterborough Inspired One Woman To Do

Clara Hughes made a stop in Peterborough Saturday for Clara's Big Ride to raise awareness about mental health and erasing the stigma associated with it. Among those in attendance for her empowering speech at Fleming College Saturday night was Peterborough's Beth McClelland. Clara's speech inspired Beth to go home and write this blog entry below. Have a read, and see Clara's response to Beth via Twitter at the end of this post...

"I just got home from hearing Clara Hughes speak in my hometown and all I can say is “wow”.

For over four years now I have been learning to live with mental illness and for over four years, I have kept it a secret from my parents…until tonight. 

I come from a very loving family, with parents that have amazing intentions and while we’ve had our ups and downs as many families do I know we love each other.

So why didn’t I tell them? What if they treated me differently? What if they no longer thought I could handle myself? - I don’t want to be on suicide watch or self-injury watch when I’m doing just fine! What if they judged me? What if they thought I was overreacting?…For whatever reason this cycle of “what ifs” yielded no positive outcomes.

I’m trying to wrack my brain for the defining moment that encouraged me to finally break the ice and tell them, but I think I’ve been blessed with many defining moments, especially over the past few months. A month ago my friend shared a story with me about overcoming a near suicide attempt, a few weeks ago a counsellor I’ve been seeing for nearly four years told me he’s proud of my growth, just yesterday a friend listened non-judgmentally to my story and told me I am special to the world and tonight being filled with the passion and energy Clara spoke with was the icing on the cake. These moments, each one, built a foundation of courage inside of me.

I didn’t tell my parents everything, I’m not ready yet and that’s okay, but I did tell them I am on medication and why. I told them I want to eventually switch family doctors, because while they adore ours, I feel she judges me, and I told them I was sorry that in four years I’d never made these admissions. 

They didn’t judge me. My parents said it’s okay that I take medication to stabilize my moods. My parents said they’d help me find a new family doctor if that’s what I want. They didn’t ask many questions and maybe they minimized the situation a bit, but I think they know there’s a lot more to the story and that I’ll tell it when I’m ready. 

Four years of fear, four years of hiding and in about four minutes I let almost all of it go. And while there’s still more to share with them, I can’t even begin to express how GOOD letting go felt.

Those moments I mentioned earlier, they built my foundation of courage - but to have a liveable home, you need more than just a foundation. So PLEASE keep talking, because you might just be helping me and those around you build their house of courage, and we appreciate it…the conversation I was able to have tonight is a perfect example of how *you* using your voice can encourage *me* to use mine.

Clara put it so well in saying this isn’t her big ride, or Bell Let’s Talk’s big ride, or Peterborough’s big ride - it’s Canada’s. We all have a stake in this conversation. - Thanks Clara"

@Ptbo_Canada @bee_mcclelland This makes this whole ride a success. This alone. I am completely blown away, inspired and grateful.

— Clara Hughes (@ClaraHughes_) March 25, 2014

[blog entry reprinted with permission via Beth Anne McClelland's blog Cutting Free]

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PTBOCanada Pics: Clara Hughes Comes To Peterborough For #ClarasBigRide

The amazing and inspiring Clara Hughes—who Christie Blatchford calls "this generation’s Terry Fox"—arrived in Peterborough Saturday (March 22nd) as part of her 12,000 kilometre Clara's Big Ride journey to raise awareness about mental health and erase the stigma associated with mental illness. Clara, who was won multiple Olympic medals in cycles and speed skating, has herself battled depression for years. Her 110 day bicycle ride will take her to 95 communities across Canada. She spoke highly of Peterborough and its attention given to mental health initiatives. She wants this ride across the country to be epic and called it "Canada's Big Ride". Props to the local Canadian Mental Health Association chapter for bringing Clara to Peterborough. Here's pictures from her day in town...

[picture via Liz Shaughnessy]

Clara with her support riders, including her husband, Peter Guzman. [picture via Liz Shaughnessy]

[picture via Liz Shaughnessy]

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Peterborough Start-Up Redpath Hosts Launch Party At Market Hall December 12th

Next Thursday (December 12th) at Market Hall, Peterborough-based startup Redpath will be introducing their social network for mental health and addiction, along with the premiere of its Redpath YouTube video by local video company Whitebulb. The redpath model has been used offline for many years in communities to treat those in need. Now, bringing it online, this social platform will use technology to deliver real-time access to those in need. Redpath is about connecting the disconnected. You can follow redpath on Twitter @redpath_, and on Facebook at TheRedPath. Email info@redpath.io to RSVP or call 705-874-3048. See poster invite below...

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Art For Awareness Presents Erasing The Stigma

Art for Awareness, a local theatre group, is getting ready for their first original production to hit the stage at the Adam Scott auditorium. Erasing the Stigma, a multimedia dance performance, runs October 4th, 5th, 8th and 9th at 8 p.m., and seeks to normalize the stories of those living with mental illness.  Arts for Awareness has partnered with Canadian Mental Health Association, The Schizophrenia Society of Ontario, the LYNX Early Psychosis Intervention Program, and the Human Services & Justice Coordinating Committee for this show. Tickets are available at Black Honey and at the door. If you saw their first show Next to Normal, you'll know how talented and passionate this group is!

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]

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