Not Alone Ride For Mental Health Awareness
Donation protected
I am planning a round trip motorcycle trip from Winnipeg, MB Canada to Portland, OR USA to raise awareness for mental health and reduce the stigma around mental illness. This trip will be from May 15th to June 1st to coincide with May being Mental Health Awareness Month.
One in five Canadians and Americans experience a mental issue every year. Suicide is the second leading cause of deaths in Canadian youths and third highest in American youths. Half of those that experience symptoms of depression do not seek help due primarily to the stigma and discrimination perceived around it. With diagnosis and treatment, 80% of those with mental illness return to normal activities.
To highlight the significance of being willing to ask for help and that we are not alone I will be asking local riders to join me along my journey to share in the ride, share their stories, and maybe even share place to sleep or hot meal.
Although this fund is specifically going to help with the expenses of fuel, food, and gear you will be helping to spread the message by enabling better documenting the trip with videos and live tracking on the website notaloneride.com which also come with their own costs.
If I do not reach my goal I will still be making the trip with my own money. If I exceed my goal, the excess funds will be split between the CMHA in Canada and NAMI in the US. If you do not wish to support me directly I understand and hope that you will reach out to support these organizations and the great work they do directly.
My personal experience came to a head in 2013 when I was admitted to the local Crisis Stabilization Unit while suicidal. Although I do not regret reaching out, I wish I reached out sooner. I also wish nobody else decides to wait until that point because they feel alone or ashamed. Together I feel we can make that happen.
One in five Canadians and Americans experience a mental issue every year. Suicide is the second leading cause of deaths in Canadian youths and third highest in American youths. Half of those that experience symptoms of depression do not seek help due primarily to the stigma and discrimination perceived around it. With diagnosis and treatment, 80% of those with mental illness return to normal activities.
To highlight the significance of being willing to ask for help and that we are not alone I will be asking local riders to join me along my journey to share in the ride, share their stories, and maybe even share place to sleep or hot meal.
Although this fund is specifically going to help with the expenses of fuel, food, and gear you will be helping to spread the message by enabling better documenting the trip with videos and live tracking on the website notaloneride.com which also come with their own costs.
If I do not reach my goal I will still be making the trip with my own money. If I exceed my goal, the excess funds will be split between the CMHA in Canada and NAMI in the US. If you do not wish to support me directly I understand and hope that you will reach out to support these organizations and the great work they do directly.
My personal experience came to a head in 2013 when I was admitted to the local Crisis Stabilization Unit while suicidal. Although I do not regret reaching out, I wish I reached out sooner. I also wish nobody else decides to wait until that point because they feel alone or ashamed. Together I feel we can make that happen.
Organizer
Don Newman
Organizer
Winnipeg, MB
