On June 26, thousands will cycle in Ride Don't Hide, benefitting the Canadian Mental Health Association. The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) of Grey Bruce kicked off the campaign for Ride Don't Hide today with a celebration and a call to cyclists and non-cyclists alike to join the movement that's sweeping the nation.
On June 26, 2016, Canadians from all walks of life will join the third annual Ride Don't Hide community bike ride in celebration and support of mental health. CMHA is expecting more than 6,000 cyclists to ride for mental health on June 26, 2016 in 32 communities across Canada, including Grey Bruce.
"Ride Don't Hide is an opportunity to come together as a community and say mental health is important to me, and it's ok to talk about," says Claude Anderson, Executive Director of CMHA Grey Bruce. "We are so thankful for the support from the community, and those who have shared their personal stories of why mental health is important to them."
The Ride Don't Hide movement began with Michael Schratter, a Vancouver school teacher living with bipolar disorder, who spent almost a year and a half cycling 40,000 km around the globe. Armed with only his bike, a knapsack and the determination to realize his dream of raising awareness and empowering those who experience mental illness, his story inspired millions of people and raised $100,000 for CMHA.
Ride Don't Hide is open to cyclists of all ages and skill levels. Registration is open now at $35 (Early bird registration is only $30 if you register by April 30) and free for children 12 and under. Individuals, families and teams can register online at www.ridedonthide.com.
Ride Don't Hide is an annual community bike ride hosted by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) in celebration and support of mental health for all, with the goal of ending the stigma around mental illness. First launched with Michael Schratter's 40,000 km ride around the globe in 2010, Ride Don't Hide is a growing national movement with community bike rides in 32 cities across BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. This year CMHA aims to engage more than 8,000 participants and over a dozen schools, and raise $1,500,000 for mental health programs. Join the movement and find your local community ride at ridedonthide.com.
The Canadian Mental Health Association is one of Canada's oldest and most established national mental health charities. Our vision is mentally healthy people in a healthy society. As the nation-wide leader and champion for mental health, CMHA facilitates access to the resources people require to maintain and improve mental health and community integration, build resilience, and support recovery from mental illness. To learn more visit www.cmhagb.org
Check out the Ride Don't hide video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb_tijxm2Xw
source: media release, Canadian Mental Health Association - Grey Bruce
