Preparations are well underway for the arrival of Clara's Big Ride in the Battlefords.
The cross-country bicycle ride by Canadian six-time Olympian Clara Hughes starts March 14 and will span 12,000 kilometers across Canada in every province and territory.
The tour is part of the "Bell Let's Talk" initiative and is designed to raise awareness of mental health issues in Canada.
The tour will include a stop in North Battleford Friday, June 6. An event is planned at the Dekker Centre and Rotary Plaza at the CUplex.
Her appearance in the community is to run from 5 to 8 p.m. and is entitled "Let's Talk Mental Health in our Backyard." The visit will promote awareness of mental health/illness and the supports and services available in the Battlefords.
Hughes will be arriving in North Battleford en route from Lloydminster where a welcome event is planned for the Canadian Tire location there on June 3. June 7, Hughes heads to Saskatoon for an event at the Delta Bessborough.
The Battlefords is one of 95 communities across Canada that Hughes will visit over 110 days. Her tour starts from Maple Leaf Square in Toronto March 14, and will end July 1 at Parliament Hill. Over 200 events are planned as part of the tour, with schools and youth organizations to take part.
Closer to home, a local committee has been assembled by Jane Zielke of the Canadian Mental Health Association to organize and promote Clara's arrival. It is anticipated national media attention will accompany Hughes' visit to the Battlefords as well.
It should come as no surprise that Hughes would include the Battlefords as part of her national tour. The Battlefords has been a popular annual destination for those crisscrossing the country to raise awareness for their causes, due to its proximity to Highway 16.
More information about the Clara's Big Ride tour can be found at Bell.ca/ClarasBigRide. Also available at that site is a limited-edition official jersey that can be purchased, with $15 from each sale donated to Kids Help Phone, a national service that offers free, anonymous and confidential phone and online professional counselling to young people throughout Canada.
In a statement, Hughes said she is ready for the national tour to get underway.
"After months of preparation and anticipation, I can't wait to get on my bike and meet Canadians everywhere to talk about mental health. Together, we can achieve a stigma-free Canada," said Hughes.
"Mental illness is part of everyone's life in some way, and talking openly about it tells those who struggle that they shouldn't fear seeking help. Beating the stigma is the biggest step we can take in moving Canada's mental health forward. So I'm eager to share my mental health story with you, and hope to hear yours."
