This June 25 I will take part in a one hundred mile bicycle ride as a fundraiser on behalf of McLean Hospital to help fund research and treatment for multiple forms of mental illness.
I will ride for the memory of Tyler Prescott, one of the most uniquely special people I have ever known. Funny and talented, a deep esoteric thinker and someone who was just straight up fun to be around.
But just like many of us, Tyler had his down days. And those down days - exacerbated in no small part by the isolation and weight of the COVID 19 pandemic- manifested into the fast and overwhelming depression that took his life.
Son. Brother. Nephew. Uncle. Friend.
The brightest of candles so suddenly extinguished.
You are missed Ty. Now and forever.
So this summer I'll put on my geeky bike gear and take a bicycle ride.
If you, or anyone you know, suffers from any form of mental illness ( from eating disorders to depression) then this fundraiser is for you and them and I ride, shoulder to shoulder with others, for you and for them.
And if you happen to visit West Chester, Pennsylvania, stop by Marshall Park and look for a bench dedicated to Tyler. Take a seat and have a moment of quiet contemplation for this beautiful, complicated thing called life.
This bench is a gift to the community from Tyler's friends and family; a quiet acknowledgement that Tyler's presence in this world was a gift to us all.
Thank you.
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.