Karli Zsch枚gner hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 lived in Inuvik for a year yet SA国际影视传媒� this is her first winter.

But that didnSA国际影视传媒檛 stop her from hitting the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk highway last week to bike the 138 kilometre road to raise over $4,000 and counting for the House of Hope project SA国际影视传媒� a grassroots effort to combat suicide in Tuktoyaktuk.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e never done anything quite that far,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淯sually ISA国际影视传媒檝e only bike maybe two-to-three hours at a time. But I decided to take the challenge.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen the suicides happened in June and into September, it hit. ISA国际影视传媒檝e lost a close friend to suicide SA国际影视传媒� you feel a little helpless.SA国际影视传媒�

After spending a week preparing in Tuktoyaktuk and organizing the fundraiser, Zsch枚gner set out early Nov. 10 with a solid headwind on the marathon bike ride.

Plowing her way through miles of uphill gravel, she finally ran out of sunlight and set up camp for the night. While she had brought safety equipment for wildlife encounters, she said the creatures of the tundra let her be for the night.

But the winds were significantly worse the following morning, enough that Zsch枚gner said she nearly second guessed herself.

SA国际影视传媒淭he biggest thing was keeping warm. I really didnSA国际影视传媒檛 want to take any stops because once you stop, your sweat makes you chilly,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淪o I really just biked until it got really dark, then set up a tent.

SA国际影视传媒淭he second day, I could feel my bike being pushed to the side. I woke up at 6 a.m. and was able to finish putting all my tents together by 7:30. The wind was so strong, I was trying to put my tent back in and everything was blowing away.SA国际影视传媒�

Fortunately, with the help of her friend Wanda McDonald, who made several trips down the ITH to check up on her and provide her with hot soup and tea, Zsch枚gner was able to keep herself moving and finally pulled into Inuvik at 5:15 p.m., raising $4,475 and counting in the process for House for Hope.

A place for young adults

Currently operating out of Kitti Hall, House for Hope is the brainchild of Nathan Kuptana, Agnes Krengnektak and Blaire Bernhardt.

Kuptana said he started the project to give young adults a safe space to talk about issues troubling them. HeSA国际影视传媒檚 been doing the service for about a month and it operates from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. from Sunday to Thursday and from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a place for young adults to hang out if theySA国际影视传媒檙e not feeling comfortable or feeling down,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a safe place for people to catch up with friends, play ping pong and card games and have someone to talk to.SA国际影视传媒�

Eventually, he said he would like to have a dedicated building for the organization. But for now the office at Kitti Hall is doubling as a private counselling chamber.

Already several people have taken advantage of House for Hope to get issues off their chest, which Kuptana said he hoped would help people who are combating suicidal thoughts.

Noting the House for Hope isnSA国际影视传媒檛 just about counselling but also providing safe and sober activities for young adults, Kuptana said he would like to expand into a music program. He added he was planning to put the money raised by Zsch枚gner towards musical gear, such as a piano and some guitars.

SA国际影视传媒淲e have a lot of young adults who are over 18 now that ISA国际影视传媒檝e seen play piano and theySA国际影视传媒檙e pretty good,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淪o it would be great to get a piano.SA国际影视传媒�

Kuptana said he also wants to establish an on the land program to connect young adults with Elders so they can pass on their knowledge.

He said learning essential skills for survival would be helpful for both peopleSA国际影视传媒檚 mental health and spirit.

SA国际影视传媒淥ur generation and the upcoming next generation, weSA国际影视传媒檝e forgot who we were as Inuvialuit people,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 want Elders to remind us of who we are. In my point of view, I see them as heroes because they know the ways of life.

SA国际影视传媒淣ot all of us young adults know how our lifestyle was long ago.SA国际影视传媒�

Noting the project has been well received by the community, Kuptana said he hoped to access more training for counselling for himself and his peers. HeSA国际影视传媒檚 already completed ASIST: Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training.

In the meantime, he said the best way people could help out is by reaching out to him if theySA国际影视传媒檙e struggling.

SA国际影视传媒淚n the past four weeks ISA国际影视传媒檝e had about five or six people open up to me and talk to me private,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 try to make them feel as comfortable as they can and try to give them good advice.

SA国际影视传媒淚f someoneSA国际影视传媒檚 feeling down, they can either talk to me or someone else in private.SA国际影视传媒�

Kuptana added he hoped other small communities could establish similar initiatives to combat suicide in their communities.

Now recovering in Inuvik, Zsch枚gner said sheSA国际影视传媒檚 learned a lot from the experience.

Noting her knees were particularly sore, she reflected on others who did a lot of conditioning before making the trip. Proper eye-wear was also a must-have if she were to make the trip again and making sure proper fuel and lighters are on hand is essential.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think a lot of people are just a little afraid to put themselves out there and try things,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淪o I encourage to test themselves. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e capable and it's amazing what the body can do when it has a will to do something.SA国际影视传媒�

Zsch枚gner said sheSA国际影视传媒檚 planning to do other fundraisers for House for Hope in the future and has kept her GoFundMe for the cause open. Visit to donate.