Regina’s Ride Don’t Hide event raises $82,000 for mental health

More than 250 cyclists — from Nova Scotia to Kelowna — biked through Regina on Sunday for the Canadian Mental Health Association’s (CMHA) annual Ride Don’t Hide fundraiser.

Shannon Patton, director of community engagement with the CMHA’s Regina branch, said the turnout was about 15 cyclists larger than last year — something she attributes to people finding a sense of community within the event.

“People can actually come together, they can support each other and they can engage in those (mental health) conversations and not worry — not worry because there’s no stigma here,” she explained.

Patton added the fundraiser is a way to show people dealing with mental health issues they’re not alone.

“If (people) have a broken bone, no one really says anything, but when you’re not feeling good mentally — or when you’re having a mental health issue — it’s a lot harder because we don’t always see it,” she said.

“We all need to celebrate our mental health and we all need to be able to do those things — (if) we’re not having a great day (and) we’re having a bad day, we need to say so.”

This year, Ride Don’t Hide raised around $82,000 — that’s about $2,000 more than the CMHA’s initial fundraising goal.

Patton said the money will go towards programming in the Regina area, so those who need help will feel comfortable asking for it.

According to the CMHA, 85 per cent of Canadians believe mental health services are the most underfunded within the health care system.

— With files from 980 CJME’s Joseph Ho

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a corrected version of the story, indicating the funds raised will stay in the Regina area.