(Photo courtesy/Brent Worrall, Facebook)

By Ben Tompkins

Mental Health Advocates

Special guest to highlight mental health awareness day in Humboldt

Sep 10, 2022 | 8:00 AM

The City of Humboldt is hosting a free mental health awareness event on Monday, September 12.

Their guest speaker for this event is Brent Worrall, author and mental health advocate. Worrall was a professional Motocross racer until a horrific racing crash 11 years ago left him as a paraplegic.

On Sept. 7, he embarked on a 400-kilometre hand cycle ride from Swift Current to Humboldt, raising awareness for PTSD, trauma recovery, and mental health.

He will arrive in Humboldt on Monday, September 12 at approximately 12:00 p.m.

“All of his courage, just to be able to tackle this challenge is something out of this world,” Recreation and Community Event Coordinator Andrea Tonn told northeastNOW. “The determination and the willpower is definitely something I’m in awe of.”

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Community members are invited to accompany Worrall on the final portion of his ride by either walking, running, or cycling alongside, beginning in the Canadian Tire parking lot at approximately 12:15 p.m.

She said mental health awareness is something that can not be overlooked.

“We all realize that mental health awareness is so important, not just in this community. It’s a topic that oftentimes is hard to talk about, there’s sometimes a stigma associated with it. In whatever manner, we can get some information out and some firsthand experiences, we can help one person out just to make a difference, then it’ll all be worth it.”

Following Worrall’s presentation, Tyler Smith, one of the 13 people who survived the 2017-18 Humboldt Broncos tragedy in 2018, will share an important video message about how “It’s okay to not be okay.”

Attendees will be given the opportunity to enter draws for some of Tyler’s “Not Alone” apparel.

Tonn added just how important it is to have people who have gone through their own struggles to leave people “rest assured they’re not alone.”

“It’s a pretty special moment, there’s no question about it. To have people sit in front of a crowd and talk to people in the general public and just say, it’s okay that we weren’t okay, but, every day we’re going to fight through it, it definitely means a lot.”

Opening Remarks will begin at 1 p.m., with introductions for Brent Worrall at 1:10 p.m. and Tyler Smith at 1:30 p.m.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter @BenTompkins_8