Lucas Embroidery has helped Marleau with the designs and embroidering of the clothing. (Facebook/Luc Marleau)

By Mat Barrett

Keep on Fighting

Tisdale’s Marleau starts new clothing line with proceeds going to mental health initiatives

Apr 20, 2021 | 5:00 PM

A young Tisdale man has created his own clothing company with some proceeds going to mental health initiatives.

Nineteen-year-old Luc Marleau has started the ‘Keep on Fighting’ Clothing Company. He told northeastNOW the idea for the company started about two years ago after a mental health episode that put him in the psychiatric ward in Prince Albert for a few days.

“I realized that I need to do something, I need to get better,” Marleau said. “Because this is not where I want to be, I was at my lowest and I couldn’t get out of it and I thought I didn’t know what to do.”

He said he’s been on the right track since then with some new medications and talking to a therapist to help. Marleau said he’s got somewhat of a new outlook and appreciation for life.

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Marleau started sharing his story on Instagram, something he said was a great help.

“Letting people know is one of the biggest things you can do,” he said. “Because if you can talk about it, you’ll be able to find ways to deal with it.”

As a long-time hockey player as well, Marleau said in all sports, mental health needs to be talked about. He said since he’s begun talking about his mental health, he’s received tons of support from his teammates and coaches.

“I want people to talk about it,” Marleau said. “I want people to get the clothing, and wear it proudly, and be like ‘yes, if you do struggle with your mental health, I am totally open to talk about it.'”

Luc Marleau played part of one season with the SJHL’s Melfort Mustangs, but also spent time with the Tisdale Trojans, North East Wolfpack, and Carrot River Outback Thunder. He most recently played for the Saskatoon Quakers. (Facebook/Broad Leaf Media)

As for the name ‘Keep on Fighting,’ Marleau has a tattoo on his left forearm with the same line on it. He said while struggling with his mental health, he would cut his arms and now having a tattoo that says ‘Keep on Fighting,’ it’s a reminder.

“To have that there to look at and when I was thinking about that, it would remind me to keep on fighting,” he said.

(Submitted/Luc Marleau)

For the time being, hoodies are only being sold but Marleau said he hopes to expand with some t-shirts, and hats in the near future. Hoodies are currently $59.99 and $10 from each purchase goes to mental health initiatives. Marleau said to begin, the money is going to go towards local initiatives, but the hope is to expand as more people buy products.

You can find the line of clothing on Facebook by going to Marleau’s personal page. ‘Keep on Fighting’ Clothing Company can also be found on Instagram and Twitter.

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mat.barrett@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @matbarrett6