Skip to content

Riders raise cash for mental health, brain injury

A crisp morning greeted riders on the fourth annual Berry Architecture Wellness Ride on Saturday.
WEb-wellness
The lead pack of riders in the Berry Architecture Wellness Ride is seen heading east of Red Deer on Highway 11 Saturday. Riders chose between 50 km and 100 km distances with a round or one way trip to Delburne. The ride was organized to raise money for the Canadian Mental Health Association and the Central Alberta Brain Injury Society.

A crisp morning greeted riders on the fourth annual Berry Architecture Wellness Ride on Saturday.

About 33 cyclists of all ages and abilities set out on the 50 km or the 100 km cross country bike ride that loops along Red Deer’s trails and eventually out along Hwy 595 to Delburne.

The event raises money in support of the Canadian Mental Health Association and the Central Alberta Brain Injury Society.

As cyclists geared-up for the four to eight hour trek it was hard for some to ignore a timely issue surrounding their sport.

The United States Anti-Doping Agency has alleged that Lance Armstrong, seven-time Tour de France winner and cancer survivor, is a drug cheat. The agency responded by stripping the cyclist of his seven Tour titles and slamming him with a lifetime ban.

The news surprised Red Deer cyclists Patty Rutherford and Deb Wright, particpaints in the Berry Architecture Wellness Ride.

“Is it really true?” Wright asked. “He has been such an icon for everybody, it is really sad,” she said.

The dark light cast upon a hero was also one of the things on George Berry’s mind on Saturday.

The avid cyclist, was the main sponsor of the wellness ride for the third time this year and was happy to support a great cause. He chooses to focus on the positives when it comes to the Armstrong situation.

“We should be playing up the positives instead of the negatives,” he said.

“Lance did a great amount of work for cycling and cancer research in the world and he has done an awful lot, so everyone should still be proud of him.”

At the Berry Architecture headquarters in downtown Red Deer Graham Barclay, Canadian Mental Health Association board chair, says the money raised from the ride will go towards seven different programs that help people on the front lines.

“Our association helps a lot in town in regards to the homeless and people with brain injuries so we are involved with educational programs for those who need assistance,” he said.

As riders made their way past the intersection of Hwy 816 and 595 they were met with support by City of Red Deer mayor Morris Flewwelling, who rode to the area on horseback.

“It is a great fundraiser and opportunity,” he said.

Cyclists were led this year by guest rider Const. Adam George, of the Red Deer City RCMP, who identified with the cause.

“As an RCMP officer we obviously deal with mental health a lot and I have some personal experiences in that area as well,” he said.

Participants of the Berry Architecture Wellness Ride, along with approximately 20 local sponsors, helped the Canadian Mental Health Association and the Central Alberta Brain Injury Society raise $30,367 — a major difference compared to the $9,000 that was raised only a few years earlier.

jjones@www.reddeeradvocate.com