There is still time to participate in the Canadian Mental Health Association-South Cariboo Branch (CMHA-SC) Third Annual Community Bike Ride at the 108 Heritage Site on June 22.
Didi Henderson, CMHA-SC fundraising chair and this year’s Ride Don’t Hide event co-ordinator, invites everyone to get involved in the branch’s biggest fundraiser of the year.
“One of the reasons I like the Ride Don’t Hide is because we’re trying to promote mentally healthy people in a healthy society, which is one of the focuses of the Canadian Mental Health Association.”
Noting this ride kind of conquers all those boxes, she says physical activity is good for mental and physical health; it’s a community bike ride and not a race, which involves families and people from one-year-olds to those in their eighties; and there is a social aspect to it because of the free barbecue after the riders come back to the site.
“It is definitely meant to be an inclusive community event.”
Fundraising is an important part of the event because it provides funds for some of our local initiatives, Henderson says, adding it helps raise awareness of mental health issues and that is equally important.
“In our society, mental illness is still stigmatized. We’re trying to reduce the stigma.”
She says they are also looking for volunteers, so this is a way to get involved for people who don’t want to ride.
“We have to set up tables and marshal people or if they just want to flip burgers, or stand at the cross roads and hand out water bottles, they can do that.”
People who want to volunteer can contact Henderson at 250-791-6295, or e-mail didikh@gmail.com.
Folks, who want to get involved in fundraising but don’t want to do the bike ride, can become “virtual riders” by collecting pledges and registration forms in advance or the day of the event.
It costs $35 to register for the ride, which includes a professional cycling shirt; $25 without a T-shirt; a family rate by donation on the day of the race; and youth 12 years and under are free.
Registration forms can be picked up at Didi’s Boutique or at the CMHA office at 555 Cedar Ave. Folks can also register at the 108 Historic Site on June 22 between 9 and 11 a.m.
"Even if people don’t want to get pledges or fundraise, that’s OK. We just want people to participate more than anything.”
Event schedule
• 9-11 a.m. – registration
• 9:45 a.m. – welcome and introduction of champions
• 10 a.m. – 20-kilometre guided advanced ride begins
• 11 a.m. – beginners, teams and family groups (10-km rides)
• Noon-2 p.m. – barbecue, social and prizes.
For more information about the CMHA-SC, go to southcariboo@cmha.bc.ca.