This will be my third consecutive year riding 50 miles throughout the gorgeous Hudson Valley as part of The Ride for Mental Health. I ride to honor the memory of my only sibling, Brent Thurn, who died by suicide on February 20, 2021 following a battle with major depression and anxiety.
Brent was a man who loved his family deeply, was usually the funniest human in a room, life-long hockey player, hockey referee and avid cyclist. By all outward appearances, he was successful and had every reason to live. It was his mind that lied to him. During the isolation of COVID, his struggles increased and his anxiety worsened.
He tried so hard to stay strong and fight these hidden battles. He would tell me about how much pain he was in - that it was unrelenting. He wanted the pain to stop and could not see a way out.
Once you witness the depths of a person you love deeply struggle with their mental health and ultimately die by suicide, you will do what you can to help even just one person, family or friend not to walk the same journey. After Brent's death, I wanted to do something to help raise awareness. Since Brent was a cyclist, I looked for a charity bike ride and stumbled upon The Ride for Mental Health.
Brent's best friend, Leonard Valvo, and I formed "Team Shake It Off". We want to help "shake off" the stigma of mental illness. We are also paying tribute to the parody sing along video Brent once made to the Taylor Swift song by the same name.
The last two years Team Shake It Off has raised thousands of dollars and we hope to do that again this year. Proceeds from The Ride for Mental Health benefit McLean Hospital, a Harvard Medical School affiliate, named #1 in America for psychiatric care by the 2022 US News & World Report annual "best hospitals" survey.
I would greatly appreciate any and all support to this worthwhile cause. No donation is too small as ALL donations help to make change and impact the lives of those who have mental health struggles. I will continue to honor Brent by advocating for those who need access to care for mental health. Together we CAN make a difference! Thank you for your support!