Two Kelowna residents are preparing to ride across the country in support of mental health.
Joe Elsey and Will Evans have started a project called Bloody Long Ride, which accurately describes the journey they are about to take.
“We’re starting at the Mile Zero of the Marathon of Hope, and then we’re going up through Ontario taking Highway 17. Coming up across and going into Edmonton, up into Jasper, down through the Rockies, popping out near Golden and in through B.C,” said Evans.
“Then on to Whistler so we can bypass Vancouver and take the ferry to Fort Hardy. So, we’re going pretty much as far as we can go. I think the total journey is going to be around 8,300 kilometers depending on stops.”
The pair have selected four charities to support, two in the UK as they are both originally from there, and two charities in Canada.
Evans has selected Campaign Against Living Miserably in the UK and Elevation Outdoors in Kelowna.
“That is a suicide prevention hotline and a website that provides critical support for people who are dealing with mental health issues and thoughts of suicide,” said Evans.
“I’m also collaborating with Elevation Outdoors, a local charity that works to get underprivileged kids active and involved in various programs.”
Elsey has chosen to support Athletic Minds Foundation in the UK and the Thomas Alan Budd Foundation in Kelowna.
He mentioned that the ride is about more than just raising money, it's also about starting a dialogue about mental health.
“The UK foundation runs an eight-week program which is completely free, funded by kind donations, and it includes psychoeducation, free access to counseling services, and nutrition plans for physical education, personal trainers, all things that I think we can all probably agree are very important for good mental health,” said Elsey.
“In Canada, I’ve chosen the Thomas Alan Budd Foundation, and I’m in discussions with Tom to see how he can support us during our journey.”
In June, the team plans to ride from St. John’s Newfoundland to Port Hardy unassisted. The goal is to finish the trip in 75 days, depending on stops, with 58 days of riding. The team aims for a total average of 141 kilometers per day.
Elsey and Evans acknowledge that they have never done anything like this before and have a lot to do to prepare for the trip.
“It's going to involve a lot of training, trying to secure sponsors, raise awareness for the event, and create a positive movement,” said Elsey.
More information about the Bloody Long Ride or ways to donate can be found on the team’s social media (@bloody.long.ride on Instagram).
