Cyclists are taking to the road in Burnaby to bring mental health into the open on Sunday for the Canadian Mental Health Association's Ride Don’t Hide.
The annual community event at Burnaby’s Swangard Stadium is designed to open the conversation on mental health and raise money for mental health programs for children and youth.
In the Greater Vancouver area, the public is invited to join with distances ranging from a family 5-kilometre walk to a police-escorted 100-km ride. There is even a virtual ride for those unable to participate on June 23. There is spot for everyone “to get loud” about mental health by supporting Ride Don’t Hide. One hundred per cent of funds raised support youth mental health programs in Greater Vancouver.
“When a loved one is struggling with poor mental health it can feel helpless,” said Michael Anhorn, executive director of the Canadian Mental Health Association Vancouver-Fraser, in a news release. “Joining Ride Don’t Hide can be an important conversation starter and is a clear sign you are a mental health advocate — working to normalize mental health and end stigma.”
The 2019 RDH will recognize Chris Reynolds for his efforts which began the first CMHA Community Bike Ride in 2009. The former competitive cyclist initiated the event to encourage community dialogue to support people who have mental health struggles like him. The 20km route will be named in Reynolds’ honour.
“I think people are getting help from this,” he said. “I hope people have fun - I hope it reduces stigma and I hope that helps people with mental illness live a better life.”
Join or donate to Ride Don’t Hide by visiting www.ridedonthide.com
Date: Saturday June 23, 2019
Location: Swangard Stadium, 3883 Imperial Street, Burnaby, BC
Ride Don’t Hide
● Ride Don't Hide supports CMHA’s local children's and youth mental health programming and provides a fun event to celebrate community. With an attainable fundraising minimum of $100 and rides for all abilities including a family friendly walk/roll 5K, 10K, 20K, 60K, 100K routes plus a virtual ride, it’s about bringing mental health into the open. http://www.ridedonthide.com
● Eight locations in B.C. participate in Ride Don’t Hide and 21 across the country. Participants can participate from anywhere at any time with the CHMA’s virtual ride.
● The event was founded in Vancouver based on a community ride created by Chris Reynolds and became a nation-wide movement powered by a ride around the world for mental health in 2010-11 by Vancouver’s Michael Schratter.
● Ride Don’t Hide is the largest mental health bike ride in Canada with almost 10,000 riders and hundreds more family members, friends and volunteers across Canada taking part, raising more than $1.5 million each year for the Canadian Mental Health Association.
