People will be riding their way across British Columbia Sunday June 23, 2013 to support programs for women and families experiencing mental health challenges

Ride Don’t Hide is a community bike ride hosted by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), with the goal of strengthening and supporting the mental health of women and their families.

The community event is a ride, not a race, with routes designed for riders of all ages and abilities—from novice rider to the advanced cyclist. Regardless of distance, participants will travel a route supported from start to finish with rest stops, water to fuel the journey, and fans to cheer them on.

In addition to the benefits of physical activity, participants will be helping break the stigma associated with mental illness by joining the Ride Don’t Hide community. CMHA aims to raise $400,000 for mental health programs benefiting women and their families during the event.

The ride takes place Sunday, June 23, 2013 in 13 cities throughout British Columbia as well as one ride in York Region, Ontario. To find out where and the details of each ride, check out all the various locations. The mid-Island event will be held in Nanaimo and begins at Maffeo-Sutton Park.

We speak with Gwen Vonarx, an organizer with the Ride Don’t Hide event in Nanaimo.

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