Peddling across Canada for a cause
By Joan Janzen
Matt Dickson started his journey in Vancouver and is peddling across Canada on his bicycle. Matthew has successfully recovered from schizophrenia and is attempting to be the first person with schizophrenia to bicycle across Canada.
“I want to show people the disease isn’t a death sentence and to give hope to those suffering with it,” he explained. “I am raising funds for the Schizophrenia Societies in Canada and for the MindAid nonprofits, who are helping people with mental illness in developing countries.”
Matt Dickson is biking across Canada raising funds for Schizophrenia Societies in Canada. He stopped in Kindersley for an interview.
Matt said MindAid is the world’s first website, with all the organizations working on mental health in developing countries on site. He is helping get the information out, so people in developing countries can get access to basic mental health care. These non-profit organizations are low-cost but have been proven to be effective.
Throughout his journey from B.C. and into Alberta, Matt concentrated on where he would sleep, where he could get food and water, and watching what funding was coming in on his Go Fund Me which provides funds for his journey. When he reached Drumheller, he was interviewed on the Drumheller radio station.
“After that, I started to get more honks on the road. I want to meet more people along the way,” he said. Matt started his journey on June 4 and plans to reach Newfoundland on August 19 if all goes as planned. Matt lives and works in New Brunswick. You can check on his MindAid social media for updates on his trip.
About three decades ago, Matt had biked across Canada with a group of friends; that was shortly before he received his diagnosis. “I received medication and read lots about how to get better,” he said. On his website, there’s a link listing all of the resources and books that helped him out on his journey. “I’ve read hundreds of books to get myself better.”
Matt also stopped in Oyen and Kindersley and had lined up a speaking engagement in Luseland. What Matt enjoys most about his cycling trip is reaching out to people and talking about schizophrenia.
“It’s so hidden; nobody talks about it. For me, it’s important to be out in the open, talking to strangers, having conversations, getting people talking about,” he said.
He stressed the importance of connecting with other people. “It’s really important to be with others. If someone is struggling with mental illness, spend time with them,” he advised. “But you’ve also got to start phoning people; you can’t wait for people to reach out to you.”
Matt travels as light as he can, but he does carry a tent for camping and lots of water for the hot summer days. The most challenging part is high temperatures and hills. “Going over Rogers Pass in B.C. in the heat tuckered me out,” he admitted.
He’ll return to work when he arrives back home in New Brunswick but said, “I’m trying to make mental health advocacy my bread and butter.
With all the tools I’ve acquired, I can’t just sit here and do nothing.”
But he is doing something - peddling about 100 km to 150 km per day. “That could take six hours or ten hours, depending on conditions,” he said. He expressed appreciation for Saskatchewan’s flat terrain. “A nice tailwind with no hills is such a wonderful feeling!” And he always makes sure to take one day each week to rest.
In an effort to raise awareness, Matt has been doing more interviews on podcasts. “I’m on YouTube and Facebook with this ride, and I’m always adding to my website. I want more eyeballs on it. I’m promoting non-profits who do the work, and want those non-profits to become well known. With donations behind them, they’ll be able to help so many more people.”
“I have to go by faith, knowing the funds will keep coming in,” Matt said. So let’s show him our famous prairie hospitality and keep him going on his journey. You can reach Matt at MindAid.ca, and send e-transfers to info@mindaid.ca. For donations to the Schizophrenia Society, contact schizophrenia.ca/donate