Ride Don’t Hide: Oppenheimer in Action 12-hour relay on June 17 is the school’s version of the national fundraiser for the Canadian Mental Health Association
Burnaby, B.C. – The kids of David Oppenheimer Elementary School are going to get physical on Friday, June 17 to promote mental health.
It’s the Ride Don’t Hide: Oppenheimer in Action 12-hour relay, and kids will run, walk, rollerblade, bike or skateboard around the school and nearby Bobolink Park, passing a baton continuously from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., raising money for the Canadian Mental Health Association’s (CMHA) mental health programs.
The event is the Oppenheimer kids’ version of the upcoming Shoppers Drug Mart Ride Don’t Hide, CMHA’s foremost national participatory fundraiser, which takes place on Sunday, June 26. On that day there will be 29 rides across Canada, including one in Greater Vancouver.
The driving – or pedalling – force behind the relay is Michael Schratter, the David Oppenheimer Elementary School teacher who made history in 2011 when he cycled 40,000 kilometres solo around the world to raise awareness of mental health, and to help banish the stigma around mental illness. Michael’s ride also inspired the annual Shoppers Drug Mart Ride Don’t Hide, which is in its 5th year in 2016.
Money raised by Oppenheimer students will go towards CMHA’s mental health programs. And on Sunday, June 26, at Shoppers Drug Mart Ride Don’t Hide Greater Vancouver event at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, Michael Schratter and the students will present a cheque for the money Oppenheimer raises to CMHA.
To help support Team Oppenheimer with your donation, or to sign up for Shoppers Drug Mart Ride Don’t Hide on June 26, visit www.ridedonthide.com/bc.
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For more information or to interview Michael Schratter, please contact:
Jennifer Quan, Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division
604-688-3234 or jennifer.quan@cmha.bc.ca
About the Canadian Mental Health Association:
Founded in 1918, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is a national charity that helps maintain and improve mental health for all Canadians. As the nation-wide leader and champion for mental health, CMHA helps people access the community resources they need to build resilience and support recovery from mental illness. Visit the CMHA website at www.cmha.ca today.