McLean Hospital is excited to announce The Ride for Mental Health (The Ride), a weekend of cycling, celebration, and fundraising to support McLean programs, will once again be held in the picturesque Hudson Valley, June 25-26.
Starting in New Paltz, New York, only 90 minutes north of Manhattan, The Ride is one of the few cycling events in the U.S. that exclusively benefits mental health, attracting groups and individual riders from New York City to Boston.
Registration opened on December 1 with a special discounted rate of $75 available through the end of the month. The individual rate goes to $125 from January 1 until March 31, and to $175 after April 1.
Since The Ride was launched in 2017, the goal has been to “Ride Away the Stigma” that surrounds mental health while raising money for education, research, and treatment.
Participation has grown steadily as The Ride seeks to become one of the nation’s premier fundraising weekends focused on mental health. Riders enjoy scenic routes of 25, 50, and 100 miles winding through beautiful rural landscapes and natural settings, plus dinner on Saturday evening. There is also a 14-mile rail trail option.
To date, The Ride has raised more than $800,000 for McLean Hospital, the largest psychiatric affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Consistently ranked the #1 freestanding psychiatric hospital in the country by U.S. News & World Report, McLean is a member of Mass General Brigham and is a proven world leader in the study and treatment of psychiatric illness.
By partnering with McLean, The Ride offers hope to the 1 in 5 Americans who will experience mental illness in their lifetimes.
The Ride for Mental Health was created by New York City attorney Mac Dorris, inspired by the life and untimely passing of his son, Eric, who struggled with mental illness.
“Last summer we raised over $235,000, of which $225,000 went to McLean, so we’re extremely excited to bring The Ride back to the Hudson Valley in June,” said Dorris. “Our event always has a festive, collegial atmosphere that makes it an uplifting and rewarding experience for everyone, including our wonderful volunteers who join us for dinner on Saturday night.”
With more than 600 riders expected in 2022, The Ride is on pace to surpass $1 million in total donations to McLean Hospital.
Corporate groups, community organizations, teams, and individuals can participate and create their own fundraising pages. Sponsorship opportunities are available, and volunteers are needed.
Details are available at The Ride’s website, by emailing The Ride, and by following The Ride on Instagram, Facebook, and Strava.
Why Ride?
The Ride for Mental Health was founded by New York City attorney Mac Dorris, inspired by his son, Eric.
A bright and funny boy, Eric struggled with mental health issues as a young man. He was eventually diagnosed with borderline personality disorder among other conditions, and tragically died of an accidental overdose at the age of 21.
Mac, an avid cyclist, created The Ride to honor his son’s life, and to shine a light of hope and caring for others. Eric’s memory lives on in the important work being funded by The Ride for Mental Health, and in the moments of connection and camaraderie that make the event so rewarding.
Funds from The Ride for Mental Health fuel a range of programs across McLean’s multi-campus network.
These initiatives include expanding access to clinical care for young people, scholarships providing financial assistance for patients and their families, development of a state-of-the-art academic and residential center for child and adolescent programs, public education and community training, and McLean’s nationally recognized research and innovation.
McLean maintains the largest neuroscience and psychiatric research program of any private psychiatric hospital in the U.S., exemplified by the Eric Dorris Memorial Research Fellowship. Since its inception, the fellowship has been awarded to four outstanding post-doctoral scientists, with a fifth fellow to be chosen in spring 2022.
With the help of funding from The Ride for Mental Health, McLean Hospital continues to improve the lives of people and families affected by psychiatric disorders by advancing our understanding of mental illness, leading to earlier and more effective interventions.
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