Moms Stop the Harm BC Member, Jessica Michalofsky is training to run across BC during the months of May and June of 2023. After running around the BC Ministry of Health Building for six weeks this past winter, Jessica decided to redirect her focus. Jessica will begin her run in Nelson, BC where her son Aubrey lived and died. “I decided to put my focus somewhere else and so for the run across BC, my focus is more on the people involved, people who use drugs, their families and young people….I feel like we need to band together” (The Northern View). Jessica is pleading for the BC Government to step in and regulate the illicit drug supply that is killing our loved ones.

That means:

access to safe supply
barrier-free access to traditional therapy like methadone and suboxone, especially in rural areas
substantial increase in the number of treatment centres and aftercare
wide implementation of education and prevention in schools

Currently, Jessica’s route includes the following communities: Nelson, Castlegar, Grand Forks, Osoyoos, Penticton, Kelowna, Keremeos, Princeton, Hope, various points across the Lower Mainland, Nanaimo, Duncan and Victoria.

Are you interested in being involved in some way? Would you like to coordinate an event to have Jessica run through your community? If so, please express your interest, including your ability to host an event on the day Jessica arrives in your community.

Examples of a coordinated event would be runners/walkers accompanying Jessica’s arrival into your community, convening at a spot where speakers and the public can gather (City Hall, MLA office, Harm Reduction organization, high school, etc.). Jessica and her team are happy to assist you with this event planning. Jessica and her team of four is also in need of billeting. If you know of someone who has room in their house or a back yard available for camping, that would be greatly appreciated.

Let’s make some noise all across BC in support of our loved ones!

Nelson 5 Starting to run to Victoria.jpg

Here is the route Jessica will be running

May 21st Nelson - run started!
May 22nd Winlaw
May 23 Castlegar
May 26 Grand Forks
May 31 Osoyoos
June 1 Oliver
June 4 Penticton
June 6 Kelowna
June 7 Keremeos
June 9 Princeton
June 14 Hope
June 18 Coquitlam
June 20 DTES
June 22 Nanaimo
June 24 Duncan
June 25 Victoria

VANCOUVER ISLAND EVENT INFORMATION:

THURSDAY, JUNE 22 - NANAIMO BC
TIME: 1 pm - 3 pm
LOCATION: Maffeo Sutton Park - 100 Comox Rd. Nanaimo BC
EVENT DETAILS: “Rally For Safe Supply”
MEDIA CONTACT: Sarah Lovegrove - nurselovegrove@gmail.com

FRIDAY, JUNE 23 - DUNCAN, BC
TIME: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
LOCATION: Station Street Commons in Duncan
EVENT DETAILS: Runners and walkers will be meeting prior to the event (1:30 at 2701 James Street), walking past City Hall and one block on to our event. We have drummers and speakers lined up, and there will be snacks and drinks.
MEDIA CONTACT: Cailey Foster, Cowichan Community Action Team Peer Coordinator - CowichanCATpeers@gmail.com

UNDAY, JUNE 25TH - VICTORIA, BC
TIME: 1:30 - 2:30 PM
LOCATION: VICTORIA LEGISLATURE, MEET AT THE CENOTAPH
EVENT DETAILS: Guest Speakers: Leslie McBain, Co Founder Moms Stop the Harm & Lisa Lapointe, BC Chief Coroner. Public Naloxone Training available.
MEDIA CONTACT: Jennifer Howard, MSTH Program Manager - jennifer.howard@momsstoptheharm.com

Please click below if you are able to assist Jessica in planning an event in your community and/or if you can assist with accomodation.

You can view Jessica’s ongoing protest via Facebook or you can reach out via email: runforaubrey@gmail.com

Would you like to support Jessica's action? Visit the GoFundMe page. The funds raised will assist Jessica with her run expenses. Any funds left will be used to bring Jessica to Ottawa in October for a day of action.

Donate to support Jessica