Dr. Alex DiGiacomo is cycling across Canada this summer to support the Break the Cycle Campaign.
Her goal is to raise awareness for the estimated 1.2 million young people in the country affected by mental health struggles. The Canadian Mental Health Association estimates that around 75 per cent of affected children don’t have access to proper psychological care.
Dr. DiGiacomo is a registered clinical psychologist working in Vancouver. Moved by the plight of these children and despite no formal experience as a cyclist, she departed from Vancouver on July 22 and is headed to the east coast.
The Break the Cycle Campaign has three parts.
First, the campaign is raising awareness about existing treatments that are proven to work. Most children don’t have access to this treatment, and many parents may not be aware that such options exist.
Second, the campaign is raising funds to support the charities in each province that directly support the mental health of youths. “At the end I split (the money raised) with all those charities across the country,” said Dr. DiGiacomo.
Third, the campaign seeks to share knowledge. As long wait times are the norm, Dr. DiGiacomo wishes to share free knowledge on her Instagram account that can help while you wait to speak with someone. Simply having access to good information helps people feel reassured.
Dr. DiGiacomo said she wanted to do something for the cause and was inspired by a similar cycling effort. “The actual idea of the bike ride came to me from my best friend’s dad, who cycled across Canada in 1993 after his wife passed away from breast cancer.”
She knew this is what she had to do. “As a psychologist, what we love is to fix problems and help people,” she said.
Dr. DiGiacomo said the coolest part of her journey is the idea of a metaphor reflecting what she is doing. “I chose the bike ride because I am a very new cyclist… This is very challenging for me. I wanted something that would mirror the experience of parents and kids, so when they feel they’re facing insurmountable obstacles, I feel like I’m facing an insurmountable obstacle because (of the ride).”
She recalled her experience on the Coquihalla Highway. “On one side of me there’s a cliff; on the other side of me there are transport trucks barrelling down. It’s so interesting to me how it mirrors some of the same challenges families are facing, but on a bike. It has been a very cool metaphor,” she explained.
Things got intense for a leg of that journey. “Honestly, I thought I’m not going to make it… I couldn’t figure out how I was going to make it because it’s so steep and the shoulder is like five inches wide.” At that point, she came across two other cyclists, and they agreed to ride together.
The group was going far slower than a natural biking pace due to them hauling equipment for a long trek. Despite the much slower pace, she stuck with the group. “I think that shows that when you are struggling with mental health stuff, especially when it’s your kid, you don’t want to feel alone. You want someone to help you.”
She said the day before arriving in Moose Jaw was one of the hardest, because the prairie scenery is so repetitive. “I figured out some way to break it down into small steps. I came up with a game and waited four telephone polls before looking… to see how far I went. I ate a Timbit after every 8 poles.”
She said it’s easy to think it’s hopeless in these low moments. “Some of the emotions and thoughts that we have, they’re just guesses. They don’t necessarily reflect reality the way it is,” she explained.
So far, she says the journey has taught her a lot. “One lesson that I care a lot about is that you don’t have to have all of the answers before you start moving in the direction of a solution. If you break things down into small enough pieces, you can move towards progress.”
Dr. DiGiacomo started her journey despite having no background in cycling and having no organized athletic training since her school days. Her success is a testament to her dedication.
She started in Stanley Park and had to rent a bike for the first month because she didn’t have one of her own. She said a few of her friends eventually joined in, but there was no formal training plan.
Her journey hasn’t been easy. When she first entered Calgary, Google Maps led her to a deserted construction site in one instance. She has also faced inclement weather, including lightning storms and a windstorm that was pushing her into traffic.
Dr. DiGiacomo is accompanied by a support vehicle that checks in regularly. “We meet up about every 25 km on the side of the road, and I get a Timbit,” she said. Her parents are driving the support vehicle and stop at Tim Horton’s each morning for supplies.
Eleven days into her journey, Dr. DiGiacomo arrived in Moose Jaw.
“I have a friend from Moose Jaw, and she just always spoke about it so highly and I wanted to visit,” she said, stating that her stay here has been charming. “I don’t know, I kind of feel at home here.”
Her goal is to arrive in Halifax, and she estimates it should take 50 total days, with 40 of those days being dedicated to cycling.
You can find Dr. DiGiacomo’s travel diary and campaign information on her Instagram account, @dralexdigiac.
To help support the cause, there’s a link available on her Instagram page.
She has also launched a promotional video for her campaign.
