Their Official Press Release
by Ida Clayton, SFU
Dr. Marvin Wideen, a professor at Simon Fraser University in BC, and his wife Loretta have undertaken an odyssey to cycle across Canada, from Victoria to Newfoundland, and along the way hope to raise money for the Schizophrenia Society of Canada.
Marvin Wideen was born in Nestledown, SK. He started his career as a teacher in Saskatoon, then a principal, then working at the University of Regina before he ended up at Simon Fraser University. He retires in August of this year. He has been with Simon Fraser University for 26 years.
Loretta was born in Melfort Saskatchewan, and has had a nursing career at St. Pauls Hospital in Saskatoon. From there she ran the Sherbrooke Day Program in the Department of Psychiatry at Royal Columbian Hospital. Her focus was psychiatric nursing for the 20 years prior to her retirement in 1998.
As a result of working in psychiatry, Loretta became aware of the devastation created by Schizophrenia to the people affected and to their families. What was even more apparent was the lack of public awareness and support for this major illness. Thus, Loretta and Marvin are cycling to promote awareness, raise money, and offer hope.
Prof. Wideen can be reached on his cell phone at 604-722-9479. There is also a web page designed and manned by their son Brian who will be keeping everyone up-to-date as these two very adventurous senior citizens cycle their way to St. John’s, Newfoundland.
http://www3.bc.sympatico.ca/wideenride
Anyone interested can donate to:
Wideen Ride
c/o/ Schizophrenia Society of Canada
75 The Donway West
Suite 814
Don Mills ON
M3C 2E9