Clara's Big Ride for Bell Let's Talk rolls into Québec tomorrow on the road to a stigma-free Canada

Setting out from Cornwall in the morning, Clara Hughes will be bringing the mental health message to Montréal, Sherbrooke, Trois Rivières, Québec City, Saguenay, Les Escoumins, Baie-Comeau, Matane and Rimouski

CORNWALL, ON, March 25, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Tomorrow morning, six-time Olympic medalist and Bell Let's Talk national spokesperson Clara Hughes rides into Québec to spend the next 10 days bringing the mental health message to communities around the province. Tomorrow will be Day 13 of Clara's Big Ride for Bell Let's Talk, her 12,000 kilometre, 110-day bike journey around Canada to achieve a nation free of the stigma around mental illness.

"Québec was my home for many years as I trained for Olympic competition so I'm really eager to return and meet people everywhere to share our mental health stories," said Clara. "Talking openly about the many ways mental illness has impacted us is the most important step in lifting the stigma that still lingers around mental illness. I thank the people of Cornwall for their warm welcome and look forward to seeing everyone in Montréal tomorrow!"

Clara will visit the following communities during her ride through Québec:

• Montréal – March 26 to 28
• Sherbrooke – March 28 to 29
• Trois Rivières – March 29 to 31
• Québec City – March 31 to April 1
• Saguenay – April 1 to 2
• Les Escoumins – April 2 to 3
• Baie-Comeau – April 3
• Matane – April 3 to 4
• Rimouski – April 4 to 5

Clara will start each day of the Big Ride in Québec with presentations at local schools and other community events organized by Community Champions before she hits the road again. More details on the daily events and our Community Champions can be found at Bell.ca/ClarasBigRide.

In Cornwall today, Clara is attending a welcome event at Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School at 3:45 pm and then to "Clara's Big Ride visits Akwesasne" tonight from 7 pm to 8:30 pm at the Tri District Elders Centre, 10 Community Centre Road in Akwesasne.

"We thank our Community Champions in Québec and across Canada 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

Marie-Eve Francoeur, Bell Media Relations, 514 391-5263, [email protected]