Dakin Legacy Project

Bonus Rise!
Finally back at the lake! This is a place that helps fill my cup and I’ve missed being here during the 2026 week.

I never expect (human) company at sunrise, but was thrilled that Giselle, member of and dearest friend of noted that this was our first chance to rise together and so when she (a notorious night owl) offered a bonus rise, I was IN. The sun rises about 20 mins earlier here (lol she didn’t realize that when she offered!), + travel time meant a 4:45 rise for her. 🫩

I’m grateful that Giselle has remained deeply connected to our family, and is no longer only “Brett’s friend”. 💝. He’d be pleased that we pulled this off. 😇

Following a stormy day and night, sunrise started out iffy, but we settled in and watched the morning get brighter, as things often do. 😉

Still feeling the love of all the support that’s been provided this week to our team collectively and members individually. 🙏

Day 5: The Power of Rising Up

Challenge: What will you carry forward?

From this year’s challenge I carry forward the power of community ✨💜.

This week and everyone who donated, liked, commented, or shared a photo of their own sunrise moment, showed up and showed me:

🤝 Even *if* we could do *it* alone, it is better together
📣 Many voices make it easier to amplify the message
💥 We have a responsibility to use our voices to break the silence and the stigma
🤝 We have the power to lift each other up
🏋️‍♀️ Burdens don’t feel as heavy when you can talk about them
👂A helping hand may be a listening ear
🤭 Laughter is contagious
💡 Sometimes others can see in us what we can’t see in ourselves
👌 We’re doing better than we give ourselves credit for. Perfection is not the goal.
🫧 Be gentle, with yourself and others. We’ve got a lot going on.
⁉️ You just might be surprised who shows up for you.

I have a full and grateful heart as we close out Day 5 and the official wrap on the 2026


I finished back where we did our first in 2021, with .bevy who has been on this journey from the beginning without missing a beat. 🙏

Stayed tuned for some bonus moments. 💜

If you’ve been able to donate, THANK YOU 💜
If you were waiting to donate until after we proved we could do it… we did it!!! See link in bio, post or stories. 😉🙏

Day 4: Leave a little light

Even the smallest act can shift someone’s day; sometimes more than we realize.

Challenge: Do one small act of kindness today.

Even before today’s prompt, the day was filled with kindness:
☀️my husband got up (joyfully) to join me for our annual crack-o-dawn Sunrise Challenge workout with Brady- a beautiful gift;
☀️words of encouragement filled the group chat, and
☀️smiles, hugs and high-fives buoyed our workout.

And then…
☀️My lovely husband had bought my favourite scone to have after our co-workout this morning. That is not my normal weekday eating regiment (will I disappear into the void for breaking with my code 😳). Hope not! I gave myself permission to delight in the seeming sinful “weekend” gift- of the scone and this time together over coffee.

As I went about my day, I kept at the front of my mind:
💜be kind;
💜assume the best intent;
💜give ‘extra’ if I’m able.

This resulted in taking time to give my full attention and not rush through discussions at work; reveling in the pause and connection. I walked the long route to get coffee with a colleague; bought a coffee for someone who couldn’t step away; acknowledged the extra effort by a colleague. And when a mother-daughter duo at Costco were repeatedly blocking the way while they took their time exploring I said how special it was that they were having fun with this outing- and I meant it.

I don’t actually know if whether it shifted anyone else’s day- but I do know it shifted my own. ✨💜☀️

💝Kindness towards self.
💖Kindness towards others.
🙏Receiving kindness with thanks.

Day 3: Your community, your space

The places we return to can remind us that connection matters - and that when we rise together, we don’t have to feel alone.

Challenge: Show us a place in your community that matters.

This morning I drove to my mother-in-law’s home in Strathroy to rise with her and Noë.🙌

The back deck at her home is a beloved gathering spot for family and friends. This time last year we were supporting my father-in-law through end of life care, and many a day, late night, overnight, and early morn was spent on this deck. 🕯️Alone. With family. Neighbors. Friends. Caregivers. It is a landing spot where all are welcome. The grounding of family, connection to people, and comfort of nature is abundant.

Day 2: The sky report

Sometimes, simply noticing what’s around us-and within us-can gently shift how the day unfolds.

Look up and describe the sky in three words.

✨Captivating.
🔥Afire.
🫧 Fleeting.

Seeing the pics from this morning reminded me… one sky, different experiences. Thanks all for sharing. 💜

Day 1: A quiet moment

Quiet pauses can gently reset the nervous system and create space before everything else asks for your attention.

Challenge: Notice something most people miss.

How: Take a quiet moment just for you.

Often my moment is a breath. This morning, it was remembering the joy of breathing out to wish upon a dandelion. Getting low, connecting with Mother Earth; feeling the dew-soaked grass, appreciating the micro-world of nature, and contemplating the seeds of hope that is the CAMH Sunrise Challenge.

Grateful to rising from Nova Scotia to eastern, southwest, western, and northern Ontario this year 🙌. Bev, Bina, Giselle, Deb, Sabrina, Melinda, Kaitlin, Woody, Noe, Tobias, Drew, and Matt 💜🙏

As I get ready for the 2026 with , I took a moment to look back at some of my sunrises from the past year.

Here are a few of the beautiful moments.

When you can’t see what’s ahead, what or who is your compass? 🧭

The last few weeks have been full… in a stressful way. 🥺 Just busy, mostly work. With moments that I can check in with myself… but keenly aware of being exhausted and not being my best self.

Being back at the lake after many weeks away is the chance to breathe. This morning, in the wee hours, pre-dawn, when the lake is like glass, the loons are chillin’ and I’m lost in the moment granted by each stroke of the paddle. A reset.

In the background, the rise of the sun.

And awareness of how fortunate I am to have the opportunity to reset; the space to step away; and the circumstance where I know this will pass.

The CAMH Sunrise Challenge is a chance to bring awareness to addiction and mental illness and the lifesaving work- research, in-patient and out-patient services that support members of our community when they need it most. 💜

I rise because I can. I rise because I know the devastation of realizing a loved one won’t ever again. I rise because I know what a gift it is to see a new day. I rise because I miss Brett. 😇

Please support if you can. Donations welcome. Or share your sunrise moments. Or join our team.