Ride Don't Hide

This year, the Butterfly Ride for Mental Health is going to be a two day bike ride travelling from Bowmanville to Peterborough and back. We are raising money and awareness for the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), which is a nation wide organization that promotes mental health and provides support to those who are suffering/recovering from mental health illnesses. On April 15th, 2021 we lost our beloved son, brother and friend, Jamie, to a mental health illness and we decided to join the CMHA that year in their annual Ride Don't Ride campaign that was taking place during the month of June. The Ride Don't Hide campaign is about coming together and moving for your mental health while at the same time bringing awareness and raising funds to help support the 1.3 million Canadians that the CMHA impacts each year. Three years ago we decided to kickstart our month ride early with a ride around Lake Simcoe in early May, then we had a trip from Barrie to Blue Mountain and back, and last year we went from Peterborough to Campbellford and back. They were all very emotional rides where we were able to talk about our experiences with many people along the way, all of whom had stories of their own, whether about themselves or a loved one. This year our ride is growing and we are doing a two day ride from Bowmanville to Peterborough and back. The Ride Don't Hide isn't just a fundraiser, it's a movement for mental health. Sometimes we feel pressure to act okay when really, we're just not. In this family no one rides alone, so please join us in kickstarting a ride for our own mental health and help us bring awareness to the millions suffering and help us  BREAK THE STIGMA!