PHOTOS: Prince George cyclists take off in the seventh annual Ride Don’t Hide

Cyclists took off this morning (June 23) to participate in an important ride raising both awareness and funds for the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) in Prince George.

The seventh annual Ride Don’t Hide not only takes place in Prince George; thousands of cyclists are participating in events in more than 30 communities across Canada, hoping to raise $1,700,000 across Canada.

“It is really important that this ride is here because it shows us that it’s okay to say ‘I’m not okay’. If we don’t say we are not okay, we can’t get the help we desperately need,” said Cariboo-Prince George MP, Todd Doherty, to the crowd at the beginning of the event.

“It’s really important that we as community members, friends, families, colleagues, create the environment that we can ask are you okay and the person we are asking feels safe.”  

Cyclists took off from the CN Centre parking lot Ospika Boulevard just after 9 a.m., and riders participated in either 6km, 15km, 30km or 50km rides.

Local resident Brooklyn Derksen is this year’s spokesperson for Ride Don’t Hide in Prince George, and she shared her journey with mental illness, speaking about how depression and anxiety have impacted her life before the cyclists took off.

“Together we can truly impact and empower those who are battling mental illness we can encourage them to keep fighting and embrace their own battles as true mental health champions,” said Derksen.

Funds raised from this year’s event will also go towards rebuilding CMHA’s Connections Club House, which burned down last August.

The Connections Clubhouse operated for 35 years providing programs and social recreational opportunities as well as vocational rehab, training and skill building. It also housed CMHA’s social enterprise Two Rivers Catering.

While the cycling portion of the event has wrapped-up, donations are still rolling in and you can still donate to the campaign at Ride Don’t Hide’s website for through CMHA’s website.

The Ride Don’t Hide movement first began with Michael Schratter, a Vancouver school teacher living with bipolar disorder, who spent almost a year and a half cycling 40,000 km around the globe.

Armed with only his bike, a knapsack and the determination to realize his dream of raising awareness and empowering those who experience mental illness, his story inspired millions of people and raised $100,000 for CMHA.