When Neil Paterson pedals his third Ride DonB次元官网网址檛 Hide he plans to pull at least 99 Rat Traps with him.
The Oak Bay optometrist is an avid cyclist and supporter of the Canadian Mental Health Association event that raises funds and awareness.
Paterson has participated and been a top fundraiser for Ride DonB次元官网网址檛 Hide, tells the story of his own struggles and this year challenges the community join his team B次元官网网址淪haggy and The Rat TrapsB次元官网网址� where he hopes to have 100 riders in celebration of CMHAB次元官网网址檚 100th birthday.
B次元官网网址淲ho doesnB次元官网网址檛 wanna be a rattrap once in their life,B次元官网网址� he says with a laugh. B次元官网网址淸CMHA] started to serve First World War veterans with what would be PTSD today and itB次元官网网址檚 never stopped. ThatB次元官网网址檚 an amazing accomplishment for any non-profit to hang in there for 100 years.B次元官网网址�
He had his first B次元官网网址渆pisodeB次元官网网址� in about 1992 and B次元官网网址渢wo or three good whacks since then.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 was in my last big depression and a friend was helping me. He said B次元官网网址榶ou should get involved in thisB次元官网网址� and itB次元官网网址檚 been great. ItB次元官网网址檚 been something positive to put negative energy towards,B次元官网网址� Paterson says. B次元官网网址淭hey run all these wonderful programs for people with mental health issues. IB次元官网网址檓 bipolar myself and when you have mental illness itB次元官网网址檚 just a part of who you are. You live with it, but when IB次元官网网址檓 mentally strong, I love to give back and try and help out.B次元官网网址�
Paterson finds when heB次元官网网址檚 open about his struggles with mental wellness, particularly one-on-one working with the public as an optometrist, they open up.
B次元官网网址淭hey go B次元官网网址榓hB次元官网网址� and relax. ItB次元官网网址檚 just a great leveller when people know one in five of us suffers depression in life,B次元官网网址� Paterson says. B次元官网网址淵ou get up and you put your pants on in the morning and you keep going if you can, and no judgments if you canB次元官网网址檛.B次元官网网址�
Events such as the Ride DonB次元官网网址檛 Hide help dispel lingering stigma, through both funding and awareness.
B次元官网网址淭his year we are hoping to have 500 0riders out, last year we had 350,B次元官网网址� says Jocelyn de Montmorency, program manager for CMHA BC DivisionB次元官网网址檚 Victoria office. B次元官网网址淲e have a new venue this year, at Windsor Park in Oak Bay.B次元官网网址�
The event has expanded as well: for the serious a 100 km ride as well as a 50 km, 28 km, 7 km for kids and family and a 5 km walk.
B次元官网网址淲e need to talk about our mental health. We need to share stories with one another, we need to stop hiding,B次元官网网址� says de Montmorency
Ride DonB次元官网网址檛 Hide is June 24 starting at Windsor Park in Oak Bay. Register at .
