‘You never know what someone’s going through. Check in with loved ones and try to have open conversations about mental health,’ said Uhl, whose parents are from Sault Ste. Marie
As those close to him struggled with mental health, a 29-year-old Vancouver man resolved to make a difference – by cycling and running across Canada.
This weekend, Rudy Uhl passed through Sault Ste. Marie on his long journey east from Vancouver to St. John’s, on a gruelling trek that’s taken him through the Rockies, the Prairies, and the daunting stretch of road around Lake Superior.
Uhl hopes to raise $84,775 – $10 for each kilometre he’ll move on the trip – for the Canadian Mental Health Association on his cross-country trip, the BAR 100|100 campaign.
“When I was doing my master’s abroad in Germany, I started to really struggle with my own mental health,” said Uhl. “I lost some friends and former teammates, they’ve taken their own lives, and then a good friend of mine, last year, attempted to take his own life.
“That gave me the motivation to go ahead and do this.”
Beyond raising funds, Uhl hopes his journey will encourage people to access mental health resources when they need help, and encourage people to reach out and check in with their friends and family.
“You never know what someone’s going through. Check in with loved ones and try to have open conversations about mental health,” said Uhl, whose parents are originally from Sault Ste. Marie.
Uhl’s journey began on May 31, and he’s primarily cycling across the country – but also running a 50 kilometre ultramarathon (downgraded from his original goal of 100 kilometres) in each province along the way.
He’s doing the trip entirely solo – mostly camping at night – but occasionally staying with a few friends and family scattered around Canada.
So far, it’s been quite a bit more challenging than he thought, and he was surprised by the difficulty of getting around Lake Superior.
“People had told me it’s pretty hilly here, and I kind of laughed it off,” Uhl said. “I’m like, ‘I’m going through the Rockies. I can handle some hills,’ but getting around Lake Superior – that really humbled me.
“There are some big climbs, and you’re just going up and down the whole entire day. It’s never ending.”
Despite the challenges, Uhl has pushed through – not only for those struggling with mental health, but also as a test to himself.
“One of the reasons why I chose to do this, too, was personally for myself, just to push myself past my perceived limits,” he said.
“It’s a battle every day. Every day I think about dropping out, or trying to hitchhike, or stopping and resting for a long time, but I just keep putting my head down and grinding.”
Those interested in donating to Uhl’s campaign can do so here.
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