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Kyle Epp, cycles across Canada to raise awareness for ADHD, and raise funds in support of the George Hull Centre.
When Kyle Epp was a mere six years old, he was diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). As a child, he struggled to understand why he had trouble fitting in and relating to his peers.
"Like a lot of kids, [I was] pretty embarrassed about my differences; [I] just really wanted to fit in and I had a really hard time accepting the fact that I was different," he said. "I kept it secret for a long time and keeping that kind of deep, dark secret, can really weigh on you. I struggled, with anger, depression and anxiety, through my adolescence and kind of coming into adulthood."
But as he began to open up to others about his ADHD, he realized that there was an understanding from those around him, rather than judgment. Wanting to continue to keep the wheels of conversation in motion, Epp literally put his (bike) gears into motion. On June 21, he began a cross-country bike tour to raise awareness and money for mental health and for ADHD. He started his journey in Victoria, British Columbia. Epp, who is an avid cyclist said that he had always wanted to tour the country on his bike. For him, there was no better way than melding his passion for cycling with his want to let others know that they are not alone with their ADHD diagnosis.
"I've had people come to me and say, 'I also have ADHD, my son has ADHD, my daughter has ADHD.' Just seeing things like that, let them know that it's okay to talk about it and to open up," Epp said. "I think for me, as a younger person, that would have been a really big thing; just trying to spread that message that it's okay to talk about [it] and reduce the stigma around mental health."
Kyle averaged about 90 kilometres a day. The trip, however, was not without some bumps in the road, both literal and figurative. Epp who had been trying his best to avoid rainy weather ended up running into some bad luck and the very weather he had been trying to avoid on the road when he was in British Columbia.
" I've been pretty overwhelmed with the support that I have had. [Even] from strangers; in Revelstoke inviting me to a campsite, to have a steak dinner with them to people who I haven't spoken with in five to 10 years reaching out and sharing my story. It's been pretty amazing to see the kind of outpouring of support that I've had," he said. "The donations are a welcome bonus there as well. People who I've never met, [have] given their hard-earned money to the cause. [That's] is huge for me."
"I think the biggest message that I would say to anyone who's struggling with any sort of mental illness is that you're not alone.... I think the more we talk about it, the more we'll be able to move in that direction."
Kyle covered approximately 6,712 kilometres on his bike tour for the George Hull Centre, and raised over $22,000! Through his employer, he set up a campaign and was able to amass approximately $9,000, with a thousand of those dollars being money Epp donated himself. He also set up a gofundme campaign page to raise the remaining amount. Kyle is back home, for a well-deserved break, but will continue to fundraise well into November.
Thank you, Kyle, we couldn’t be more thrilled or proud of his dedication. According to the Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada, it is estimated that ADHD affects an estimated 5 -9 percent of children and 3-5 percent of adults.
Credit to Anna Ferensowicz/ Discover Airdrie/ Air106.1 FM for article content.
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