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From the Rock to Rockies, teachers return home after gruelling cycling trip

Trio has raised $50K so far in support of Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre's Simcoe Muskoka Regional Child and Youth Mental Health Program
road to rockies
A crowd of supporters gathered in RVH’s main lobby to welcome home local teachers James Carson, Nancy Newman and Aaryn Coutts after they completed a cross-Canada cycle to raise funds for the health centre’s Child and Youth Mental Health inpatient unit. Photo credit – Denise Philpott, RVH

NEWS RELEASE
ROYAL VICTORIA HEALTH CENTRE
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Simcoe County teachers James Carson, Nancy Newman and Aaryn Coutts have returned home after cycling 7,600 kilometers across Canada in support of Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre’s (RVH) Simcoe Muskoka Regional Child and Youth Mental Health Program.

The trio began their ride in Cape Spear, NL on July 1 with an incredible Canada Day service and official police escort through St. John’s.

Their journey, entitled From the Rock to the Rockies, continued for seven weeks, during which they faced high winds, rain, challenging terrain, heat waves and heavy traffic.

Their positive attitudes and strong determination guided them to Vancouver, B.C., reaching their final destination on Aug. 17 where they ceremoniously dipped their front tires in the Pacific Ocean.

An incredible $50,000, so far, has been raised in support of James, Nancy and Aaryn’s efforts.

“We wanted to do something for our students and help as many young people as we can,” says Carson. “Some of our students and their families use RVH for treatment and we had the opportunity to spread awareness and make a change. RVH has helped our community immensely, and this facility helps youth and their families get the care they desperately need.”

Since December 2017, the child and youth mental-health program has provided care to more than 1,500 young people from across the region through the eight-bed inpatient unit, outpatient program or classroom which is part of the Day Program.

Funds raised by the teachers’ efforts will, fittingly, support the future needs of the classroom. One in five young people suffer from mental illness but until the program opened, North Simcoe Muskoka was the only region in Ontario without a hospital-based inpatient child and youth mental health program. Youth who are experiencing acute mental health issues now have access to specialized inpatient services for stabilization and treatment at RVH.

Last fall, RVH also opened a day program offering academic and mental health services for high school students unable to attend regular classes due to a diagnosis of anxiety or depression.

“We are incredibly grateful to these inspirational educators,” says Eric Dean, RVH Foundation CEO. “James, Nancy and Aaryn have not only raised funds, they’ve raised awareness and continued the conversation around youth mental health amongst children and families across Canada.”

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