BC Minister for Mental Health and Addictions to join riders at the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Ride Don’t Hide community bike ride and fundraising event
The Canadian Mental Health Association is gearing up for the annual Ride Don’t Hide event on June 23 in communities across Canada, all focused on raising funds to provide critical mental health supports in the community.
Mental Health and Addictions Minister Judy Darcy will be joining cyclists, supporters, volunteers and donors at the annual community bike ride which is now in its 11th year.
Ride Don’t Hide is a nationwide fundraising bike ride that brings mental health out into the open. Now in its eighth year, Ride Don’t Hide will take place on June 23, 2019, in 21 communities across Canada. Ride Don’t Hide welcomes cyclists of all ages and abilities with routes ranging from 10 km to 100 km.
“We are delighted to welcome Minister Darcy to this year’s Greater Vancouver Ride Don’t Hide so she can witness the enthusiasm and passion of all those taking part,” says Jonny Morris, CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division.
“This is where Ride Don’t Hide first started in 2009 as a small community event and later became a nationwide movement powered by Michael Schratter’s ride around the world for mental health in 2010-11. What started out from humble beginnings has now evolved to be 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 to raise funds and encourage community dialogue around mental health.”
Ride Don’t Hide event is open to cyclists of all ages and skill levels. Registration and donations can be made online at www.ridedonthide.com
About Ride Don’t Hide
Ride Don’t Hide is the Canadian Mental Health Association’s flagship fundraising campaign focused on reducing stigma and raising money for mental health. Launched 11 years ago in Vancouver as a community ride, it grew to become a national event after Michael Schratter’s 40,000 km ride around the globe in 2010. This 8th annual Ride Don’t Hide is a national event held on June 23rd in 21 communities, across seven provinces, from Tofino, BC, to St. John’s, NL. The Ride has raised over $8.5 million in funding for mental health programs and services in communities across Canada. For more information, visit www.ridedonthide.com.
About the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)
CMHA is Canada’s most established mental health charity and the nation-wide leader and champion for mental health. CMHA helps people access the resources they need to maintain and improve mental health, build resilience, and support recovery from mental illness. Each year in BC alone, CMHA serves more than 100,000 people all across the province. For mental health and addiction information and resources visit www.staging.cmha-bc.flywheelsites.com
Media Contact:
Lorna Allen
Communications Coordinator – Media, CMHA BC Division
P: 604-688-3234 ext. 6326
E: lorna.allen@cmha.bc.ca