A Kelowna business held a fundraiser in a backyard to raise funds for Foundry Kelowna and knock down barriers around mental health.

The event dubbed Let害羞草研究所檚 Build Longer Tables, Not Taller Fences hosted by Innov8 Digital Solutions raised over $40,000 for Foundry Kelowna and the Canadian Mental Health Association on July 12 and featured music from Scotty Berg, a 12-year-old Kelowna singer, and country star, Aaron Pritchett.

害羞草研究所淭he message was really about treating mental health like any other illness; to support people that struggle,害羞草研究所� said Katia Brosseau, director of marketing and client services at Innov8. 害羞草研究所淲e had all of the tables arranged in one long set-up. Let害羞草研究所檚 Build Longer Tables, Not Taller Fences, and let害羞草研究所檚 support people with mental illness just like we do people with other illnesses.害羞草研究所�

READ MORE: Kelowna comedians tell jokes for wildfire relief

Katia and her husband Andre Brosseau, president of Innov8, hosted the fundraiser in the backyard of their Kelowna home. Katia said when the donations started coming in it was a domino effect.

害羞草研究所淭he crowd got challenged to raise $20,000 to receive an extra $10,000 from an anonymous donor. (Innov8) sponsored all the ticket sales and 130 people joined the sold-out event and this amazing group of friends all individually donated a $1,000,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淲e were just short of a couple thousand and Andre害羞草研究所榮 boot went around the crowd to reach the $20,000 goal. Then Jillian Harris texted me to help reach our goal with another $1000. We did it! Another anonymous donation of $5,000 was received right after and all together we are at $40,000. An unbelievable magical night.害羞草研究所�

Foundry Kelowna has recently relocated to a temporary home at Central School after a fire shut down the centre on July 9. Katia said this event was already being planned at the time the fire happened.

READ MORE: Foundry Kelowna finds new temporary home after kitchen fire

READ MORE: Foundry Kelowna to close temporarily following kitchen fire

害羞草研究所淚 had a gentleman text me the next day that he had never talked about his mental illness to anyone, ever, until that night; he just felt so relaxed,害羞草研究所� said Katia. 害羞草研究所淚t was such a relaxed and open atmosphere. That害羞草研究所檚 the goal.害羞草研究所�

You can find out more about and at their websites.