June 1, 2023 – Victoria, BC – The Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division (CMHA BC) is proud to announce two annual fundraisers occurring this June: Ride Don’t Hide and the Shoppers Drug Mart Run for Women. Get moving for mental health and join us to show your community they are not alone.
“CMHA BC truly appreciates the enthusiasm and generosity that community members bring to our engagement events,” says Jocelyn de Montmorency, Program Manager, CMHA BC. “By participating in an event, community members are showcasing their support and championing the need for more mental health programs and services.”
This weekend, fellow riders will be coming together for the annual CMHA BC Ride Don’t Hide event. Since 2012, this event has helped raise over $500,000 for crucial mental health programs and services in BC while raising awareness for increased mental health supports and resources. There is still time to join us on Sunday, June 4 at Windsor Park to ride, connect with your community, and help raise funds to support the future of mental health – register or support a rider at RideDontHide.com/Victoria
On Sunday, June 25, Shoppers Drug Mart and CMHA BC are coming together to support the future of women’s mental health. Join us by running or walking in-person at Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park, or running virtually, to help support two CMHA BC programs: Living Life to the Full, focused on supporting the mental wellness of individuals experiencing stress, worry, and low mood, and Enjoy Your Baby, a post-partum depression prevention program for new parents. Make a difference for the mental health of women in your city and join in on the fun by registering at RunForWomen.ca/Cities/Victoria.
CMHA BC is proud to be a leader in connecting individuals to the resources and support they need to strengthen their mental health and well-being. Whether you are riding, walking, running, or cheering participants on, we hope to see you there!
“I am thrilled to see events in our community that get you active, foster connections and support something that impacts us all. Everyone should have access to mental health services and support,” says Gillian Carleton, long-time CMHA BC supporter. “I encourage you to gather your friends and family this June and get active with me to help create change for mental health.”
About CMHA BC: CMHA BC is a leading mental health non-profit organization providing mental health skills and resilience programs, delivering training and education, connecting individuals and organizations to resources, and advocating for mental health priorities for all British Columbians. CMHA BC’s services and supports aim to prevent mental health problems, support recovery and resilience, and enable all individuals to flourish and thrive.
About Ride Don’t Hide: Ride Don’t Hide started with one man’s ride and has become a nationwide movement for mental health. Ride Don’t Hide began in 2010 as Michael Schratter, a Vancouver teacher and newspaper columnist, embarked on a global journey to raise funds for CMHA BC Division and raise awareness about the stigma surrounding mental illness. Now, Ride Don’t Hide is the largest mental health bike ride in Canada. Over ten years, thousands of people have rode millions of kilometers and raised millions of dollars for community mental health.
About the Shoppers Drug Mart Run for Women: The Shoppers Drug Mart Run for Women brings communities together in support of local women’s mental health programs to make communities healthier. Run for Women is a 5K Run/Walk, and 10K Run taking place in 18 cities across Canada. Since 2012, over 180,000 participants have helped raise approximately $16 million for women’s mental health programs across Canada.
For further inquires contact:
CMHA BC Media
media@cmha.bc.ca
604-353-8159