A special cycling trek from Vancouver to St. John's begins on May 20th, when 60-year-old Mel Thompson dips his wheels in the Pacific Ocean and starts to pedal eastward. During his 100 day journey across Canada, Thompson hopes The Ride for Mental Health will raise awareness about mental illness and get people talking about the issues surrounding it. Although mental illness affects one in five Canadians at some point in their lives, there is still a social stigma attached to mental illness that keeps many people from seeking the help they need. It is the disease that no one likes to talk about, but it has a devastating impact on people who suffer from it, their families and society in general. The Ride for Mental Health aims to bring the issues of mental illness out in the open, get people to share their own experiences with it, and debunk the myths and misconceptions of mental illness.

CNW Group | XEROX CANADA | Canadian Cyclist to Cross the Country in 100 Day Ride to Raise Awareness for Mental Health