Ride for Hope a success in its first year
The day was bright, warm and had just the right balance of coolness with a gentle breeze Saturday.
“The weather was perfect,” said Larry Bundy said of conditions for Ride for Hope, a debut benefit for the Niagara Life Centre.
It was Bundy who had approached the centre about his fundraising idea.
“We were so excited by (his idea),” said Niagara Life Centre executive director Rita Makubya. “It was something new and something that threw us into a different sector of our community. People may not be aware of the services that we provide.”
Those services include family counselling, marital counselling, addictions help, anger management, and crisis and pregnancy support. Counselling is available to everyone in the community, at a low fee, or in some cases no-fee counselling.
“That’s what makes us different. Counselling is so expensive out there and when people hit those walls they can’t afford it, so we charge $40 for the upper end down to a low fee, and no fee. That allows people to get their lives together.”
Makubya said there is still a stigma when people reach out for help with mental health issues.
“We’re really trying to break that because when you come for help it’s a good thing.”
Bundy said the first-ever Ride for Hope went well.
“We had about 25 bikes and two groups. Most rides that go out only do one route that might not be suitable for all the drivers, so what I did uniquely this time was have two separate routes. People could choose which one they would like the best. And that seemed to work out really well,” he said.
Ride for Hope was such a hit that it has been decided that it will become an annual event.
“For the first ride we had a few riders, but we hope next year we can market it better,” said Makubya.
People can contact Niagara Life Centre, in St. Catharines, to set up an intake and find a counsellor. Call 905-934-0021 for more information.