The second annual Community Learning Campus (CLC) Ride For Mental Health didn't reach its 6,000 kilometre (K) target, but organizer Steven Bowie, the recreation and special events programmer for the CLC, is still relatively pleased with how it went.
Under the event, held Jan. 25 and 26, people were invited to come to the CLC Fitness Centre and ride stationary bikes.
Stak Fitness, which provided equipment in the facility, pledged to donate 15 cents for every kilometre biked. Shoppers Drug Mart was another sponsor.
Money raised went toward the Olds College student emergency fund.
It was part of Make Some Noise For Mental Health, a mental health awareness initiative organized by the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC). Olds College is a member of the organization.
In the end, 293 cyclists participated, biking 4,003.72 K — the equivalent of biking from Olds to Sudbury — and raised a total of $625.55.
Bowie said had participants biked the entire 6,000 K goal, it would be the equivalent of cycling from Vancouver to Halifax.
"Overall, I feel like it was a pretty great experience for everyone who came out," he wrote in an email to the Albertan.
"We had quite a few people really push their limits (one guy did 85 K the first day and 115 K the next for 200 K total). I'm already looking forward to next year."
