People have always told me that I was a force to be reckoned with, a bundle of never ending energy and always willing to stand up for causes that everyone else would turn their back too because the uphill climb seemed to be too daunting. Then I met Lembi Buchanan. Let's talk about a force, boy oh boy, this girl could take a lesson from that girl! Lembi Buchanan has been a long time advocate and champion in the community of mental health. Her sheer will and determination buoy me and only makes me want to dig down a little bit more to find that extra effort to make sure that I can bring all that I can and do all that I can do for the community that we live in.For those of you who don't know all that much about her let me give you a little insight. Lembi, who's husband Jim, who is the complete love of her life, is afflicted with bi-polar and when the government saw fit to refuse Jim the Disability Tax Credit, Lembi decided to take them on. Now we all know what taking on "the man" can be like. It can leave one feeling like a bug on the windshield, simply to be wiped away. Lembi wasn't having any of that. In the end, the Buchanan's won their bid for Jim's DTC and ultimately this all led to changes in that legislation.
When Canada Post announced its original intention of releasing a postage stamp in support of the mental health community everyone was thrilled. The trouble was that the original stamp left many of us feeling that the imagery of the stamp only reinforced the negative connotations about mental health with its swirling insignia.Lembi took this challenge on head first. Imagine what it takes to get a federal postal agency to completely scrap the original stamp template and replace it. Well she did it and just this past October Canada Post unveiled its Taking Steps campaign with the new stamp. Thank you Lembi.
Lembi's commitment to working in this community didn't end with that challenge. Currently the Buchanan's oversee the Nickel-A-Drink Foundation which is looking at petitioning the government to encourage them to levy a five cent taxation on all alcohol sold, with revenues to be directed to the addictions and mental health community. She is relentless and tireless in her pursuit of improving the quality of life for those affected by mental health and addictions.
Most recently we at FAME have had the good fortune to be the on the receiving end of Lembi's good work. A few weeks ago I attended a fundraising dinner hosted by Lembi, Jim and the Nickel-A-Drink Foundation. It was a great evening with the highlights being the keynote address by Andre Picard, author of the Globe & Mail series "Breakdown - A Crisis in Mental Health Care". The second highlight was hearing from Jesse Bigelow, an extraordinary young man who has reclaimed his life from schizophrenia. At the end of the evening Lembi announced that all proceeds from the evening would be coming to FAME, yes you read that right, coming to FAME in support of the fameKids programming. Lembi had told me that after speaking me about fameKids she's come to realize the gaping holes in support for children in dealing with mental health issues.This Thursday I will be attending the Nickel-A-Drink Foundation AGM to receive what will be the first installment of a donation. The generosity and support that NAD has shown FAME is so greatly appreciated, as is Lembi's efforts to put FAME out there in the community and make others aware of our programs and services. If you'd like to know more about the Disability Tax Credit improvements, the Nickel-A-Drink Foundation or the Canada Post campaign (which I mentioned in an earlier blogposting) then check out these links:
http://www.disabilitytaxcredit.com/
http://www.nickeladrink.com/
http://www.canadapost.ca/CPfoundation/default-e.asp
Finally, Lembi, on behalf of all the families that we serve, a big fat thanks. You absolutely inspire this girl!
