Ashley Gilbank Providing a Powerful Message in Cross Country Trek

Having already roller bladed from Newfoundland to Manitoba, Ashley Gilbank is following in the footsteps of other Canadian heroes such as Terry Fox and Rick Hansen.

The women’s ice hockey player is embarking on a unique crusade. By undertaking in the Skate4Life 2012 campaign, Gilbank is representing an effort to help save people’s lives, while preserving the memory of another one.

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"The whole reason I took on this journey was to bring awareness and funds to the importance of youth mental health. After losing a childhood friend, Rachel Spearing, a gifted rugby player to suicide, I realized how wrong my own opinions were of suicide," stated Gilbank. "Look at the tough guys in the NHL that committed suicide. They are suffering in silence and no one even knew it."

"Suicide, depression, anxiety are all viewed as weaknesses and the social stigma surrounding them are barriers to helping people. Kids are committing suicide younger and younger. They shouldn't be taking their own lives, and we need to find a way to make it ok for them to seek help."

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A competitive women's ice hockey player, Gilbank has taught at summer hockey camps with such Canadian hockey legends as Jennifer Botterill. Like many girls, Gilbank started playing hockey with boys,

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"I have played hockey for 18 years. I started out in a small community called Manvers (in Ontario) when I was 8. It was a boys league and I played there until I was about 13." Gilbank continues by stating, "Over the years I have played for a few different teams in the OWHA including, Lindsay, Clarington, Whitby, mostly at the BB or A level. Currently I still play in Ottawa for the Senior A Westboro Ice Cats. It is a competitive team, and we compete in Provincials every year."

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Donning a purple and black hockey jersey, Gilbank is also dedicating her Skate4Life 2012 journey to the Do It for Daron foundation. DIFD honors the life of the late Daron Richardson, daughter of former NHL player Luke Richardson, and sister of Cornell Big Red player Morgan Richardson. Like Richardson, Gilbank also competed in the same hockey league.

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"Daron and I both played in the OWHA (Ontario Women’s Hockey Association), but she was much younger than me, so we never played with or against each other" said Gilbank.

"However, I did have a game right after one of her teams practices. This was right after Daron had died. The team was crying on the ice in a circle, after skating around and shooting some pucks. A lot of the girls weren't even in full equipment so it was really touching, and I never forgot that. It was one of those hockey community feelings where you realize you are part of something special. It was as if they were using hockey to heal."

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A meeting with the Richardson family came at an Ontario Hockey League game on October 9, 2011, in which the Plymouth Whalers challenged the Ottawa 67's. "I met Daron’s parents, Luke and Stephanie for the first time at an Ottawa 67's game back in October 2011. I was going to drop the ceremonial puck with Luke. After I met them and told them what I was doing they were very supportive. They gave me their contact information and they have kept contact ever since," said Gilbank.

A journey that began with the coping of a tragic loss, Ashley Gilbank is looking for a happy ending, while weaving a path of empowerment and courage. The journey for Gilbank began on June 4, 2012 by dipping a blade in the Atlantic Ocean. "As I dipped my skate in the ocean, I felt very small compared to this country and I could hear the doubt people had in me. It is hard to describe how much of an underdog I really am taking on this adventure."

Dipping her skate in the ocean was similar to Terry Fox, who dipped his artificial foot in the waters of Newfoundland, when he staged the Marathon of Hope in 1980. "I did stop at the statue of Terry less than 1km into my journey and It was very moving. I came up to where Terry stopped his run on August 23 and I was in awe ... there are certain moments where you can't help but think of him. There are a lot of times I have thought what the world would be like if Terry was able to finish his journey."

Beginning in St. John’s, Newfoundland, the aim of Ashley Gilbank is to reach Victoria, British Columbia Mile O, in early October. With any endeavor, a key aspect is to obtain support from a sponsor. "I asked Rollerblade Inc. if they would supply my blades last May and they were on board right away! It was the same with Gongshow Hockey Apparel. They have given us some great clothes to look good in during our trip. Local sponsors such as D. P Electric and Greco Lean and Fit stepped up with funding our trip. It is still a tight budget but I am ok with that. I knew it wasn't going to be a luxury trip!"

Gilbank follows in the footsteps of Canadian heroes such as Terry Fox (Marathon of Hope) and Rick Hansen (Man in Motion Tour). Others who attempted the cross country trek included Mark Kent (he made the attempt in 1974 to raise money for the 1976 Summer Olympics), and Steve Fonyo, who duplicated Fox’s run in 1984 and called it Journey for Lives. The great Gilbank is the first female to attempt the cross country journey.

Regardless of the outcome of her effort, Gilbank is taking the impossible and making it possible.

Driven by charisma and character, the beneficiaries of Gilbank’s determination are the Do It for Daron foundation. The foundation helps to recognize the tragic loss of Daron Richardson, while helping raise funds and awareness for mental health, especially among youth. Her goal is to raise awareness and funds for youth mental health. Gilbank’s motivation stemmed from the loss of a childhood friend to suicide in February 2011. Her friend also possessed an athletic background. A university rugby player, she was hit by an automobile during a jog and suffered a tragic brain injury.

On July 18, she was welcomed at Parliament Hill in her native Ottawa, and was greeted by various luminaries, along with Luke Richardson, the father of the late Daron Richardson.

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"It was amazing. Something I will never forget. I am just an average, ordinary everyday person and to have people appreciating what I am trying to accomplish was really special, especially having Luke there. It was very rewarding and motivating." Gilbank has a strong admiration for the Richardson family, "They are very strong role models in my eyes for living through the tragedy they have lived through and being able to step up and talk about suicide and how it has affected them."

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Among the highlight of her day at Parliament Hill was a fan who gave her a message of encouragement. "A little girl came up to me after the media (and most of the people) had left and told me she was following my journey. That was really cool. Sometimes the hard days get to you and when someone is touched by what you are doing, it makes it all worth it" mentioned Gilbank.

The highlight of her Skate4Life 2012 trip may have been a visit to Hastings, Ontario. "Yes, Hastings surprised me the most so far on this trip! I was contacted by a 20 year old student named Andrea Hennings. She wanted to put something together for me. I immediately said yes, as my grandparents are there and they want to see me." 

Being greeted by her grandparents was a huge boost for the courageous skater. "My grandparents came out to the BBQ. For my 87 year old grandfather that was a challenge but that didn't bother him. He was so proud and I am so glad he was able to see me skate through the town. My grandmother is still fundraising for me in Hastings."

Social media has also been a key aspect of Gilbank's journey. "Social media is more powerful than I ever imagined. It has been really cool to hear from some of my hockey heroes, including Hailey Wickenheiser, Tessa Bonhomme, Georges Laraque, Cassie Campbell, and Mark Methot." The Facebook page of Skate4Life 2012, an online diary and photo archive of her courageous trek, features a photo of Gilbank, which may be the definitive photo of journey. Adorned with a T-Shirt that features the words HEART OF A LION, Gilbank has her hands raised in a gesture of victory. "The funds are important but my main goal is the awareness. We can save lives."

Although Richardson is the only hockey player she has met on the journey, she hopes to meet a player on her journey to help promote youth mental health. "I think they are very powerful role models that could make a huge difference on this subject!" She acknowledges the assistance of another player in her quest. "I also had Claude Giroux (of the Philadelphia Flyers) sign 5 jerseys for me to auction off for the cause which was really awesome of him!"

Despite being hospitalized in early August 2012 due to heat exhaustion, her heart and determination cannot be slowed down. "I have concluded that not finishing this journey would not be an option. I understand things happen out of our control. I promised myself I won't quit, if anything I will take time off to recover but I will finish this journey, no matter what!"

As part of her trek was in the background of the 2012 London Summer Olympics, she bravely battles the blistering summer heat during her 10,000 km journey. "To try and put it in perspective: I have never run, skated, or even biked in a marathon. Even though I trained hard, I didn't have any experience in what I was about to do. I was a hockey player (that is why I choose skating); with a dream of helping a cause that so desperately needs it, plain and simple."

While her courageous Skate4Life 2012 quest has not yet reached its end, Gilbank is already planning to commemorate the end of her journey by dipping her skate in the Pacific Ocean. "So when I dipped my foot in the Atlantic, it was proof that I was here at the starting point, and that I was going to make it all away across. When I do make it, I will dip my foot into the Pacific and I know I will reflect back to June 4th 2012 when I dipped my skate into the Atlantic." One can only hope that when she successfully reaches the end in British Columbia, that she will be welcomed by a large group of adoring Canadians who will see that she not only has the heart of a lion, but the heart of a champion.

All quotes were obtained first-hand.