Busy bankers care about our health

Busy bankers at TD Canada Trust’s Cambrian Mall branch took time out from their usual duties between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Friday to help raise awareness and funds in advance of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) ‘Ride Don’t Hide’ event.

Branch employees took turns pedalling a stationary exercise bike placed within the branch to promote Ride Don’t Hide, with a donation box nearby. 

The event, to be held Sunday June 25 beginning at Bellevue Park, is part of a nationwide fundraiser in which cyclists, whether individuals or in teams, ride to raise awareness and funds for mental health programs, as well as to help reduce the stigma of mental health issues and treatment.

“We’re calling it Ride Don’t Hide because mental health is just as important as physical health,” said Lisa Carricato, CMHA mental health educator, speaking to SooToday.

“We want people to ride and not hide because mental health challenges are so common, and we want people to not be embarrassed or ashamed to talk about those.” 

“We want people to come out and ride for whatever reason they want, but also to reduce stigma and talk openly about mental health,” Carricato said.

There are 10 TD Canada Trust employees registered to take part in the June 25 local Ride Don’t Hide fundraiser, said Laura Newman, Cambrian Mall TD Canada Trust branch manager.

“We think the Ride’s fantastic. Mental health matters,” Newman said.

“The funds raised go to direct services for clients.  Mental health funding is not where it needs to be,” Carricato said.

“You would never expect someone diagnosed with Stage 1 cancer to wait until it gets to Stage 4 to be treated, but that’s what’s happening with our mental health system, we want to reduce wait lists for counselling services…in the community, for mental health care in general, there are long wait lists no matter where you go.”

A recently established program designed to help is the Walk In Counselling Service, offering free and timely mental health care to young people up to 18 years of age (and their families), without a referral from a physician or other agency.

It is staffed by registered mental health professionals from Algoma Family Services and their partner agencies, including the Canadian Mental Health Association and Algoma Public Health.

More information about the Walk In Counselling Service is available by calling 705-759-0458.

“We’re hoping for at least 100 cyclists this year (locally)…we have a group of avid cyclists at TD that keep asking more of their co-workers and friends to join,” Carricato said.

This will mark the third consecutive year the Ride Don’t Hide fundraiser event will be held in Sault Ste. Marie (the sixth in a row nationwide, with more than 10,000 cyclists anticipated to ride in 35 communities across Canada).

“Our local target this year is $10,000…the TD riders themselves have raised over a thousand dollars so far, so we’re excited about that, they’re one of the most involved teams along with the CMHA team called the Stigma Stingers” Carricato smiled.

Not into cycling but still want to help?

No worries, Carricato said.

“People can be virtual riders, which means they can start collecting pledges online or door to door.”

Go online for more information on the local ride, as well as how to register or donate.

“It’s easy to collect pledges online but if they want to, people can also come in and I can help them at CMHA (its Sault office located at 386 Queen Street East),” Carricato said.

Carricato may be contacted at 705-759-0458 ext. 231 or by email at [email protected]

Funds raised locally will stay in Sault Ste. Marie for mental health services.

Participants can register any time, including the day of the ride itself.

This year’s local Ride Don’t Hide event begins at the Bellevue Park Picnic Shelter Sunday, June 25, with a 8:30 a.m. check-in and 9 a.m. start for those taking the 25 kilometre route, a 9 a.m. check-in and 9:30 a.m. start for those cycling five kilometres.  

“It is a cycling event, but the hope is next year we’ll be moving to include walkers and runners,” Carricato said.