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Page 16 NEWFOUNDLAKELIFE.COM July 2024
Trigger Warning: This story contains mentions of suicide.
BY BRITTANY AMALFI
In today's world, countless individuals are working tirelessly to destigmatize mental health and create open avenues for dis- cussion as millions continue to struggle with these critical issues. Ever since the pandemic started, communities have been witness- ing a surge in mental health chal- lenges. However, in the midst of these struggles, they have also been witnessing a remarkable display of resilience as more and more people bravely share their stories. This is how we start the conversation.
During the pandemic, Thomas Dearborn, a Plymouth Regional High School alum, was out riding bikes with friends when the conversation sparked up about how they could raise awareness about mental health. He had noticed many people’s mental health was declining in light of the pandemic, and, with his belief in the power of endur-
Community
Highs and Lows Tour: Breaking Stigmas, Building Communities
ance sports to build community, the Highs and Lows Tour was born. Tom enlisted the help of his old friend Robert Cass, who is now the Vice Chair and Chief Technology Officer of The Highs and Lows Tour. After Tom and Robert finished a seven-hour half-Iron Man together, Tom knew he wanted Rob on his team.
“I had always wanted to use my physical ability to give back, and Tom knew I could do it,”
Cyclists during the inaugural Highs & Lows Tour in 2022 enjoying an escort from the NH State Police Motorcycle Unit.
Rob stated.
The first year, the ride was
three days long, but Dearborn stated that it was “too ambi-
tious.” So, during the following year, the Highs and Lows team changed it to a one-day event. The team has a strong purpose for holding this fantastic event: to raise awareness of mental health and suicide prevention, destig- matize mental illness, raise funds for NAMI NH, and build com- munity through sport to unite over a healthy, positive cause. Even though the team found the three-day event to be too ambi- tious, they still raised over $10k. In 2023, their first one-day event was an amazing experience. The ride offered three distances, 23 miles, 40 miles, and 104 miles, and they had 120 registered cy- clists. They raised $28k plus sub- stantial in-kind donations.
This year, the event will be held on August 10th, 2024. The team expects to see 240-250 riders and aims to raise $100k. They are offering four distances- 26 miles, 43 miles, 65 miles, and 106 miles, all beginning and ending at Holderness School. Each group will have captains, a SAG vehicle, and planned stops
throughout the course. The NH
Pictured from left to right are Sue Thistle and Phil Rollins of Hebron and their daughter, Maddie Harlow, prior to the start of the 2023 tour. Phil has ridden in each of the tours and, this year is a sponsor and captain for the century ride.
State Police Motorcycle Unit will participate as escorts again this year. Each group will start at different times to allow for some separation on the road and at rest stops. After the ride, the Highs and Lows Tour will host a post-ride community event filled with live music, games, a raffle,
food trucks, kids tricycle and bike races and much more!
The purpose of the Highs and Lows Tour comes from a common issue that people struggle with every day. “We saw this country go through a mental health crisis during the pandemic,” Dearborn said. “So this just seemed like a good and healthy way to raise awareness.”
In 2023 alone, more than 50,000 Americans died by sui- cide. After losing someone to suicide when he was 14, Tom said it was something that really stuck with him. “I can empa- thize with people,” he contin- ued. “And when we got this tour off the ground, more and more people were coming out of the woodwork and sharing their sto- ries because people felt like they could talk about it.”
The Highs and Lows Tour is sending an extremely important message. Too often, people feel like they can’t share their strug-
TOUR
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