Ride To Resilience - Documentary Film

Ride to Resilience

Hi, I’m Geoff Livingston — a filmmaker, photographer, and storyteller with a deep love for the outdoors and a passion for meaningful narratives. Over the past year and a half, I’ve been filming a powerful documentary called Ride to Resilience.

At its core, this isn’t just another mountain bike film. It’s a story about mental health, trauma, healing, and the power of community. The film follows Steve Vanderhoek, a professional freeride mountain biker and North Vancouver firefighter, as he navigates the weight of PTSD, personal loss, and the pressure of living two high-risk lives.

As Steve opened up about his struggles, the film evolved into something much bigger than we had planned. We knew we had the opportunity — and responsibility — to tell a story that could truly make a difference.

We’re about 80% through production, and the response so far has made it clear that this story needs to be told with the full depth and heart it deserves. With your help, we’ll be able to capture a few final scenes — including more incredible riding and emotionally honest moments that will add impact, authenticity, and credibility to the story.

Your support will help us finish strong and bring Ride to Resilience to life in a way that resonates with riders, first responders, and anyone who’s ever faced a mental health struggle.

Here is a short video on us explaining the project in more detail and our reason to seek your support:

What We Need

We’re looking to raise $30,000 to bring Ride to Resilience across the finish line. Your support will go directly toward:

• Music licensing to elevate the emotion and storytelling

• Professional sound design and mix to ensure the film feels polished and immersive

• Color grading to bring out the stunning visuals we’ve captured in places like Squamish, Utah, and the North Shore

• Marketing and outreach to help the film reach film festivals, mental health organizations, and wider audiences

• Screening events and promotional materials to maximize impact and engagement

• Additional production days to capture key riding scenes and storylines that give emotional weight and visual power to Steve’s journey

We will be sure to say thank you in the credits of the film. We are still working on distribution and how we'll deliver the film.

If we don’t reach the full goal, all funds raised will still go directly toward completing the film and making it the best it can possibly be.

Lastly, we’re also open to sponsorship opportunities. If you’re a brand or business interested in supporting the film and having your logo included in the opening credits, please reach out. We’d love to collaborate and showcase partners who believe in this project and its message.

The Impact

Mental health continues to be a silent struggle for many — especially men, and especially first responders. Through Steve’s openness and vulnerability, this film shines a light on the quiet battles so many face.

His story reminds us that even those who appear strongest on the outside — the heroes, the athletes, the leaders — are often carrying the heaviest burdens. And that healing begins with connection, community, and the courage to speak up.

We believe Ride to Resilience can help break stigmas, encourage conversations, and let people know they’re not alone in their struggles.

This project has already been a labor of love — with thousands of hours invested in capturing raw, emotional, and visually compelling footage. With your support, we can complete it at the highest standard and ensure it reaches the widest possible audience.

Risks & Challenges

As with many independent films, the scope of this project has grown. The mountain bike industry is currently facing financial challenges, and it’s been difficult to secure traditional funding. But we kept filming, because the story kept evolving — and because it felt more important than ever to keep going.

As Steve came up against new personal challenges, new themes emerged. Stories of trauma, resilience, and healing that demanded to be told. These shifts required more time, more effort, and more care to bring to life.

I’ve been directing, filming, and editing this project myself, and I have over 20 years of experience delivering high-quality, emotionally resonant content. I know what it takes to bring a project like this to completion, and your support will help ensure we do it right.

Other Ways You Can Help

If you’re not in a position to contribute financially, that’s completely okay. You can still help us bring this story to life by:

• Sharing this campaign with your friends, family, or community

• Spreading the word through social media or email

• Encouraging conversations around mental health, especially within male and first responder communities

Together, we can bring Ride to Resilience to life — and help make a lasting impact.

Because resilience isn’t a solo ride—help us share the story that could save lives.

To stay in the loop on whats happening with the project please visit:

https://www.ridetoresilience.ca/