The Canadian Mental Health Association - South Cariboo (CMHA-SC) is holding its annual charity bike ride at 108 Mile Ranch on June 23, and everyone is encouraged to join in.
Organizer Valinda Boyd says there will be both 10- and 20-kilometre bicycle routes around the 108 Mile trails, a change from last year.
“The 10 km is still to be around the 108 lakes, and the 20-km route is still to be determined, according to weather.”
Ride Don’t Hide is open to cyclists of all ages and skill levels, she explains.
The first ride starts at 9:30 a.m. from the 108 Heritage Site.
Many sponsors in the South Cariboo are key to the success of the event each year, Boyd adds, and join this year's cross-Canada sponsor – Shoppers Drug Mart.
The official cycling apparel sponsor, Sugoi, is offering participating teams a selection of cycling gear to wear on the big day, with custom jerseys and Shoppers Drug Mart Ride Don’t Hide Champion jerseys.
The signup fee of $35 (adult/youth) includes an exclusive jersey, a hotdog lunch, as well as bottled water and fresh fruit, she explains, but children can participate for free.
Boyd notes a food concession will be on site for spectators.
Registration forms are available online at www/ridedonthids.com and downtown at Didi's Boutique.
While riders can register at the event, she recommends signing up by June 15 to be sure to get a jersey.
“We hope to have a door prize of a bike. What kind of bike depends on our registration and [fundraising success].”
CMHA-SC executive director Maggie Patterson-Dickey is asking the public to consider joining for the local ride.
“We would like people to challenge their friends and to make up teams. There will be some incentives for people who raise more than $500.”
She adds Cariboo Family Enrichment Centre has donated 10 children's bicycle helmets that will be provided to youngsters who need them to join the ride; to request one, call Boyd at 250-395-4419.
CMHA-SC has partnered this year with the 100 Mile House Wranglers Junior B Hockey Club for the Ride Don't Hide event.
The partnership was based on former Vancouver Canucks hockey player Rick Rypien who died of suicide in August 2011, after struggling with depression.
Wranglers president and CMHA-SC director Tom Bachynski says the idea came after the Canucks created Mind Check.ca, a website to assist young people to identify and understand mental distress and link them to sources of help.
“We thought that would be a valuable component to have for the young players – to have that mental-health promotion. We are going to have some league riders to be the [event] champions.”
There are 13 communities in British Columbia hoping for 7,000 cyclists to come together and raise funds and awareness to support better mental health. CMHA in the South Cariboo has committed to providing 80-100 riders.
“Ride Don’t Hide” was inspired by Michael Schratter, a Vancouver school teacher living with bipolar disorder, who cycled 40,000 km around the globe to raise $100,000 for the CMHA.
Patterson-Dickey suggests checking out www.ridedonthide.com to learn more about Schratter’s journey, and encourages as many people as possible to sign up for the June 23 community ride.
Volunteers are still needed for the event, so call David Majcher at 250-395-3269 or e-mail davidmajcher@shaw.ca if you wish to help out.