For a third consecutive year I'm riding 50 miles through the beautiful "Gunk" mountains of New Paltz, NY with ffriends and family in memory of one of my very closest friends of more than 40 years, Brent Thurn, and to raised much-needed funds for those who still have a chance to overcome their mental health battles.
Brent was kind, generous, hard-working, loved his family and had an unforgettable sense of humor. From the outside looking in, it's almost hard to believe he was suffering. He often told me he was trying his hardest to fake it in front of others. When COVID-19 hit, he started to decline. He was unable to work or officiate, and as the depression and anxiety worsened, he lost his passion to cycle.
Brent lost his battle with mental illness in February 2021, when he committed suicide. He fought so hard to overcome his struggles, but he knew no other way out. He would repeatedly tell me the pain was too much to handle. He was so sick.
"Shake it Off" refers to the stigma, not the illness. We chose this name for our team because Brent sang (well kind of lol) a parody of it while sitting alone in his car and it makes me smile each time I listen. Sometimes it makes me cry.
Our small team has raised thousands of dollars in 2 years; an accomplisment we're very proud of and would like to continue. The proceeds benefit McLean Hospital, the largest psychiatric affiliate of Harvard Medical School, named #1 in America for psychiatric care, according to the 2022 U.S. News & World Report annual "best hospitals" survey results.
McLean has been a world leader in the treatment of mental illness, including substance use disorders. It is noted for it's neuroscience, basic and clinical evidence-based research to understand the causes of mental illnesses and develop effective new means for their prevention and treatment.
I felt helpless trying to save Brent. I will forever honor him by advocating for mental health.
Help us shake off the stigma of mental illness with your contribtuion; any dollar amount helps!
Brent Thurn "Shake it Off"