Copy this: Tanya

SooToday.com received the following note and pictures from Tanya Green at Superior Digital Solutions.

"I have never submitted anything to the media before," Tanya tells us. "There was a small event that occurred today in Sault Ste Marie that some may not think is newsworthy, but I wanted to share it with you just in case you thought it was." ************************* As the owner of Superior Digital Solutions, the local sales agency that represents Xerox, one of the largest and well known companies in the world, I have learned a lot about business and technology and have many things to be proud of, like our products, our customer service, and our commitment to the environment.

But yesterday, I learned my most valuable lesson during my 12 years with Xerox and have been given even more reason to be proud a part of such a special company.

Yesterday, I learned that with enough determination a person can do just about anything that they set their mind to, and that the part of Xerox that I am most proud of are the people who represent them.

Yesterday, one of Xerox’ top Canadian executives, Mel Thompson, stopped in Sault Ste. Marie as part of his ride across Canada to raise funds and awareness for mental health in honour of his daughter, Lindsay.

Mel and his family began The Ride for Mental Health on May 19 by dipping his bicycle tire in the Pacific Ocean and began his journey headed to dip the other in the Atlantic, targeted for later this summer.

During his short stay in Sault Ste Marie, Mel and his family paid a visit to our local Canadian Mental Health Association, who treated them to a tour and lunch and our local Xerox team were on hand to cheer him on.

Meet the local Xerox team

Everyone was impressed with the facility and services that our local CMHA offers to Sault residents who may need this service and we were so happy to be able to meet and talk to many of them and learn how this service has helped.

When I read the news every day it is easy to see how people can lose faith in mankind.

I believe that we need more inspiring stories like this where people demonstrate unbelievable courage and strength to not only face dealing with an illness or challenge of any kind, but actually commit their lives to making not only their daughter’s life better, but to helping improve the lives of many people who are also affected with this disease.

It would have been easy for a successful person like Mel who is close to retirement to write a cheque and ensure that this daughter had the best care possible or donate to a local agency and consider his job done.

It would have been easy for Xerox to not allow Mel a leave of absence and task him to meet his business obligations to the corporation’s bottom line.

It would have also been easy for them to just sponsor this journey (which they did financially) and never look back.

But neither Mel nor Xerox thought that this was enough.

Mel and his family have planned this for years and he did take time off work to follow this dream.

I am sure that riding your bike across Canada is far from easy and comes with many challenges that include aches and pains along the way.

And Xerox not only provided a financial contribution but other executives have rode sections of his journey with Mel and almost every employee and agency has supported this cause all along the way in many ways.

Some employees even wrote and produced a CD in honour of this ride on their own time.

It has really shown me the power that one person has to affect hundreds, if not thousands of people, and it all started with an idea.

So since Xerox is best known for making the world’s first photocopier, we are a group that knows a lot about duplicating.

My ask to everyone today is to copy the example that Mel, his family and Xerox have made and to take an idea or dream that you have and turn it into something positive.

Imagine what kind of world we would live in if we all did that.

http://www.therideformentalhealth.org http://www.cmhassm.com http://www.xerox.com

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