In 2019, five of my friends and I signed up for the McLean Hospital Annual Ride for Mental Health - mainly to support our dear friend that worked at McLean, but also to have a girls weekend away, and get a bit of exercise in too!
The experience was transformative -- spectacular weather, extraordinary vistas, a well-organized event, paired with great company, good conversation and 6 foodies in the kitchen, what could be better?! The verdict was in - this is our new tradition.
This June will be our 5th year participating in this ride. And, this year, the 'why' is a bit different for me. Over the last year, I've had one too many loved ones experience very serious and fatal mental health outcomes. This has rocked me to the core and really hit home how critical it is to have access to good treatment.
As soon as registration for this ride opened, all of my girlfriends signed up again – and we welcomed new riders into our weekend. We are focused and readying ourselves for this 25-50 mile ride, and to be part of the solution and raise needed funds to prevent loss of life and assist with the healing of those who need it.
I hope that you can also be part of my tradition by pledging to support my ride. 100% of funds raised will be used for mental health programming at McLean Hospital to support the people that need it most. Please accept my most heartfelt thank you, for your consideration and contribution.
The Ride was established in 2017 by Dorris in memory of his late son Eric who struggled with mental illness. A passionate cyclist, Dorris hoped he could channel his grief into the event while raising funds for McLean. Now in its sixth year, The Ride has blossomed into a much-anticipated annual event for hundreds of cyclists of every skill level. Read more about
the ride at rideformentalhealth.org.
The Ride for Mental Health 2022
The Ride for Mental Health is one of the first rides in the country to benefit mental health. The proceeds raised will be donated to McLean Hospital, a Harvard Medical School affiliate, for the education, research, and treatment of mental illness including anxiety, borderline personality disorder, depression, eating disorders and substance abuse. Our mission is to raise funds for McLean so that we can help accelerate the progress being made to help others who suffer from mental illness.
We also hope to end the stigma surrounding mental illness through education and awareness. The promotion of this ride is a start. Many if not most of us are touched by close friends and relatives who have suffered from one type or another of mental illness.
MATCHING GIFTS:
Many employers will match your gift to the Ride. Please check with your company.
Checks should be made payable to Eric’s Ride Inc. and mailed to:
Mac Dorris
537 1st Street
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Eric's Ride Inc. is a New York not for profit corporation with 501(c)(3) status. 100% of rider pledges will be donated to McLean Hospital, a Harvard Medical School affiliate.