Clara's Big Ride for Bell Let's Talk lands in Newfoundland and Labrador on Saturday

Arriving in Channel-Port-aux Basques, NL on Saturday, April 19, Clara Hughes will bring her mental health message to Stephenville, Corner Brook, Springdale, Grand Falls-Windsor, Gander, Clarenville, Bay Roberts, St. John's, Hopedale, Nain and Happy Valley-Goose Bay

NEW GLASGOW, NS, April 17, 2014 /CNW/ - Starting on Saturday morning, six-time Olympic medalist and Bell Let's Talk national spokesperson Clara Hughes will spend 12 days bringing her message about mental health and a stigma-free Canada to communities in Newfoundland and Labrador.

In New Glasgow, Nova Scotia at a school event this morning, Clara is heading to Port Hawkesbury on Day 35 of her Big Ride for Bell Let's Talk, the unprecedented 110-day, 12,000-kilometre bike journey around Canada to achieve a nation free of the stigma around mental illness. Riding in Nova Scotia since April 14, Clara has also visited Truro and Halifax and will ride to Sydney tomorrow.

"I've had a wonderful time meeting so many great people here in Nova Scotia and across the Maritimes. I'm really looking forward to visiting Cape Breton Island today and tomorrow, and then on to Newfoundland and Labrador on Saturday to share mental health stories and talk about how we can all contribute to making Canada a nation free of stigma," said Clara.

"I've been truly inspired by the people I've met at school events and community gatherings in Ontario, Québec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and most recently here in Nova Scotia, I would like to thank everyone across this beautiful province so much for their warm welcome and support for the mental health cause."

Clara will attend a welcome event at BMO Bank of Montreal, 634 Reeves Street Unit #11, Port Hawkesbury at 3:45 pm today. Tomorrow at 4:30 pm, Clara will attend her final welcome event in Nova Scotia at The Big Fiddle, 60 Esplanade in Sydney.

Clara's Big Ride in Newfoundland and Labrador
Clara will visit the following communities during her Ride through Newfoundland and Labrador:

Channel-Port aux Basques – April 19
Stephenville – April 19 to 21
Corner Brook – April 21 to 22
Springdale – April 22 to 23
Grand Falls-Windsor – April 23 to 24
Gander – April 24 to 25
Clarenville – April 25 to 26
Bay Roberts – April 26 to 27
St. John's – April 27 to 29
Hopedale – April 29
Nain – April 29 to 30
Happy Valley-Goose Bay – April 30

Clara will start each day of the Big Ride in Newfoundland and Labrador with presentations at schools and other community events organized by local Community Champions. More details on daily events and the Big Ride Community Champions can be found at Bell.ca/ClarasBigRide.

"We thank our Community Champions in Atlantic Canada and across the country for their leadership and hard work in helping to make their communities stigma free," said Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let's Talk. "With the support of our partners across Canada, Clara's Big Ride is growing awareness, acceptance and action in communities at the grassroots level."

Share in Clara's Big Ride
Clara's Big Ride for Bell Let's Talk began on March 14 and will cover 12,000 kilometres through every province and territory before concluding in Ottawa on Canada Day, July 1. Everyone can participate in the Ride through community events and social media. Please visit Bell.ca/ClarasBigRide or follow the latest Ride news on Twitter at @Bell_LetsTalk or on Facebook at Facebook.com/BellLetsTalk.

Clara's Big Ride is powered by our National Partners – Aimia, BMO, Canadian Tire, Cisco, Lundbeck, President's Choice and Samsung – who are providing significant support for the Ride. For more information, please visit Bell.ca/ClarasBigRide/Partners.

Bell Let's Talk
The Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative is a national charitable program that promotes Canadian mental health across Canada with Clara's Big Ride, the Bell Let's Talk Day anti-stigma campaign and significant funding for community care, research and workplace best practices. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.

SOURCE: Bell Canada

Media inquiries:Jacqueline Michelis, Bell Media Relations, 613 785-1427, [email protected]; Christine Manore, Bell Aliant, Corporate Affairs, 506 859-3171, [email protected]