Hunting Hills Bike-a-thon raises $50,000 for mental health

A number of student suicides at Hunting Hills in 2012 were the inspiration for the event.

Co-chair Rheanna Wurz said if there was a message she could give fellow students, it would be to always have at least one person you can open up to.

“It’s okay to not be okay all the time,” she said. “It’s okay to need support. If you need the support, get it.”

Jon Davies, Leadership teacher and Bike-a-thon staff coordinator, says this year’s event was the biggest yet with 68 teams and close to 600 participants. There were just 100 in year one.

“Our counselling staff have really pushed and said we’re having some really difficult conversations, “ he said. “If we can embrace those within the school, start talking about vulnerability and courage and sharing our story, I think we can do some healing and address some problems.”

Davies says students sometimes struggle with being open because it’s difficult differentiating themselves from their online persona and who they are in real life.

Fortunately, Davies says money has already been raised with $5,000 going to Vantage Community Services, another $5,000 to the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre and about $40,000 staying with Red Deer Public Schools to go towards mental wellness programs, a new mentorship program in partnership with AHS and even providing students with a hot breakfast.

Great scene as @HHHSrdpsd. As staff gather and bike following threat Monday will have supports and followup with students #HHHSstrong pic.twitter.com/fWXbNK24TP

— rdpschools (@rdpschools) November 8, 2017

by Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Hunting Hills Bike-a-thon raises $50,000 for mental health

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