Donation protected
Hi everyone, my name is Kirsten Martell [Coach Kirst] and I will be hosting a fundraiser bootcamp June 12 at 9am PST in honour of my client Mariska's daughter Katia who passed away March.10 2021.
You can access the bootcamp on my personal FB page Kirsten Martell [BBBA ladies you will access through zoom<3]
I don't really have words, this is. a pain NO mother should ever have to go through. My heart goes out to Mariska & all her family. I wish there was more I could do to help you through this time.
The money raised from this fundraiser will be donated to SUNRISE HOUSE YOUTH EMERGENCY SHELTER. Katia spent a lot of time here and Mariska has said they were absolutely amazing and did everything they possibly could to try and help her baby girl.
For more information on the SUNRISE HOUSE and Mariska's story I have attached a link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb9TEyTewHY
A NOTE FROM MARISKA
Three months ago, I lost my beautiful daughter, Katia Dawn, to suicide. I will never forget that moment in time when I was told she was gone. To this day, I relive it in my head over and over yet I cannot put into words the horror I felt and still feel.
Katia battled with her mental health from a young age. I noticed by age 6 and struggled to find help. My family doctor at the time didn't believe me and I had to fight to get a referral for a child psychiatrist. And by fight, I mean sit in my doctor's office and refuse to move out of my chair until I had a referral in my hands.
We won that battle and ended up with a wonderful doctor who we saw for many years. My daughter would ultimately be diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome, Oppositional Defiancy Disorder, Severe Social Anxiety, Depression and Adhd.
By age 12, Katia was self harming. She was cutting herself with a razor blade and started using marijuana at school. By age 14, things were derailing quickly, and by the time she was 15, she was on the streets and using hard drugs.
I had heard of Sunrise House Youth Shelter (GPYESS) and I was grasping at anything to help me help my child. From the first call I made 6 years ago until the day Katia died, GPYESS was there for us. Many nights Katia would show up on their doorstep and she would get a hug, a warm meal, a shower, a bed to sleep in and most importantly, love and support. I would get the call that my babygirl was safe for the night, and those nights were some of the most precious hours of my life. My girl was in a safe place. I could rest.
Over the years, Kat would come and go from the shelter. Sometimes she would stay for a few weeks, sometimes just a night. Even when she was away from the shelter for weeks, staff would still call and check up on me...'Hi Momma. How are you doing and what are you doing today to take care of yourself?' Those phone calls breathed life back into me when I was drowning in anxiety, fear and despair. GPYESS stood beside me through it all; the meth addiction, court dealings, missing child reports...they were my one constant.
In 2019, I was honored to be the first parent interviewed for the Sunrise House 'Big Hearts for Big Kids' event, put on yearly by the talented Tenille Townes, who calls Grande Prairie her hometown. Katia's life had turned around and I was amazed at her bravery for joining me on stage in front of hundreds of people. She also is featured in my video interview, where she proudly took part alongside myself and her little brother and sister. We had a few good years where things seemed better. My girl looked healthier, happier and spent more time with family.
On March 10, 2021, my daughter gave up her fight with drugs and her declining mental health. The street drugs had once again taken a hold of her, and she must have been too tired to go on. Early that afternoon, at Katia's house, where I was told of her death, I found my fingers frantically looking through my contacts for the Sunrise House phone number. My beautiful friend, my pillar of strength, Tania (the Executive Director of Sunrise House) came to me and helped me walk through those first few hours of hell.
I cannot find the words to properly thank Tanya and her loving staff, for all they have done for my Katia, myself and our family. They are a part of our family, and Kat will forever be part of theirs. GPYESS has been fundraising for years to build a new youth shelter to better support our youth. Any funds raised will be donated towards that project, in honor of my sweet angel, Katia.
Thank you Coach Kirsten and my BBBA family for the ongoing support and love.
You can access the bootcamp on my personal FB page Kirsten Martell [BBBA ladies you will access through zoom<3]
I don't really have words, this is. a pain NO mother should ever have to go through. My heart goes out to Mariska & all her family. I wish there was more I could do to help you through this time.
The money raised from this fundraiser will be donated to SUNRISE HOUSE YOUTH EMERGENCY SHELTER. Katia spent a lot of time here and Mariska has said they were absolutely amazing and did everything they possibly could to try and help her baby girl.
For more information on the SUNRISE HOUSE and Mariska's story I have attached a link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb9TEyTewHY
A NOTE FROM MARISKA
Three months ago, I lost my beautiful daughter, Katia Dawn, to suicide. I will never forget that moment in time when I was told she was gone. To this day, I relive it in my head over and over yet I cannot put into words the horror I felt and still feel.
Katia battled with her mental health from a young age. I noticed by age 6 and struggled to find help. My family doctor at the time didn't believe me and I had to fight to get a referral for a child psychiatrist. And by fight, I mean sit in my doctor's office and refuse to move out of my chair until I had a referral in my hands.
We won that battle and ended up with a wonderful doctor who we saw for many years. My daughter would ultimately be diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome, Oppositional Defiancy Disorder, Severe Social Anxiety, Depression and Adhd.
By age 12, Katia was self harming. She was cutting herself with a razor blade and started using marijuana at school. By age 14, things were derailing quickly, and by the time she was 15, she was on the streets and using hard drugs.
I had heard of Sunrise House Youth Shelter (GPYESS) and I was grasping at anything to help me help my child. From the first call I made 6 years ago until the day Katia died, GPYESS was there for us. Many nights Katia would show up on their doorstep and she would get a hug, a warm meal, a shower, a bed to sleep in and most importantly, love and support. I would get the call that my babygirl was safe for the night, and those nights were some of the most precious hours of my life. My girl was in a safe place. I could rest.
Over the years, Kat would come and go from the shelter. Sometimes she would stay for a few weeks, sometimes just a night. Even when she was away from the shelter for weeks, staff would still call and check up on me...'Hi Momma. How are you doing and what are you doing today to take care of yourself?' Those phone calls breathed life back into me when I was drowning in anxiety, fear and despair. GPYESS stood beside me through it all; the meth addiction, court dealings, missing child reports...they were my one constant.
In 2019, I was honored to be the first parent interviewed for the Sunrise House 'Big Hearts for Big Kids' event, put on yearly by the talented Tenille Townes, who calls Grande Prairie her hometown. Katia's life had turned around and I was amazed at her bravery for joining me on stage in front of hundreds of people. She also is featured in my video interview, where she proudly took part alongside myself and her little brother and sister. We had a few good years where things seemed better. My girl looked healthier, happier and spent more time with family.
On March 10, 2021, my daughter gave up her fight with drugs and her declining mental health. The street drugs had once again taken a hold of her, and she must have been too tired to go on. Early that afternoon, at Katia's house, where I was told of her death, I found my fingers frantically looking through my contacts for the Sunrise House phone number. My beautiful friend, my pillar of strength, Tania (the Executive Director of Sunrise House) came to me and helped me walk through those first few hours of hell.
I cannot find the words to properly thank Tanya and her loving staff, for all they have done for my Katia, myself and our family. They are a part of our family, and Kat will forever be part of theirs. GPYESS has been fundraising for years to build a new youth shelter to better support our youth. Any funds raised will be donated towards that project, in honor of my sweet angel, Katia.
Thank you Coach Kirsten and my BBBA family for the ongoing support and love.
Organizer and beneficiary
Kirsten Mark
Organizer
Westbank, BC
Mariska Macklin
Beneficiary