Gearing Up for Mental Health

For the second year in a row, the Forest City Cycling Challenge sped past its fundraising goal on the path to support youth mental health research and purchase exercise bikes for patients of St. Joseph’s Health Care London.

It was the sound of celebration as the spinning wheels of hundreds of bicycles raced or coasted during the Forest City Cycling Challenge. The final destination was an important one – enhancing care for those living with mental illness. 

The second annual event held in June was open to cyclists of all skill levels, with routes ranging from 25 km to 160 km. The ride began and ended at the Lerners Lawyers building, where riders were greeted by music, food trucks, and scores of volunteers.

Prizes were awarded to participants who raised the most money. Fittingly, Dr. Gillian Kernaghan, recently retired President and CEO of St. Joseph’s Health Care London’s (St. Joseph’s) earned bragging rights as the top fundraiser.

Event founders Joe DiBrita, Tim Mason and Alfonso Campos Reales hoped to match the $40,000 raised at their inaugural event. But their hard work, paired with enthusiastic riders and dedicated fundraising supporters, turned the event into a runaway success that brought in more than $60,000.

“We are totally blown away by the love and support people have shown for the Forest City Cycling Challenge,” says Alfonso, who also sits on St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation’s Board of Directors. “Mental illness affects so many people in our community, so it’s been an honour to give back to this important cause in such a meaningful way.”

Proceeds from the event support mental health care at St. Joseph’s and the purchase of exercise bikes for patients living with severe and persistent mental illness. From the moment they arrived, the bikes have been a hit with inpatients at St. Joseph’s Parkwood Institute Mental Health Care Building.

“It’s been a huge benefit to our patients to be able to jump onto the bike whenever they feel like it,” says Kerrie Dewachter, Coordinator of the Treatment and Rehabilitation Program. “Their clinicians can even hop on with them for one-to-one connection while they’re enjoying physical activity.”

Event proceeds also support the Mental Health INcubator for Disruptive Solutions (MINDS), a social innovation lab addressing youth mental illness and addiction.

Joe, Tim and Alfonso are grateful for the outpouring of support for this year’s event and planning is already underway for next year.