Cyclists will be out in the open as Canadian Mental Health Association holds its Ride Don’t Hide mental health awareness, fundraising bicycle ride Sunday (June 25).
Vicki Swan, organizer, said it begins at Maffeo Sutton Park with three routes and starting times. One route is 52.3 kilometres, one 16.5km, the other 2.2km and start times are 9, 10 and 10:30 a.m. respectively.
The 52km route takes riders near the Nanaimo Lakes area, the 16km route around downtown Nanaimo and the 2km route along the waterfront.
Swan said one of the goals is to end the stigma with mental illness.
“In their lifetime, one in five Canadians will experience mental illness and so it impacts all of us, so if you’re the one in five, it impacts your family, your friends, your co-workers, so it’s really critical that we treat this just like any other illness and become aware of what’s involved and what’s involved in supporting people with mental illness and through recovery,” said Swan.
The goal for 2017 is $20,000, which will go to the association’s programs, and $7,620 had been raised as of Wednesday morning.
There is a $35 registration fee, although riders 12 years old and younger ride for free.
For more information, go to www.ridedonthide.com/bc/ride/mid-island.
reporter@nanaimobulletin.com