Over 200 cyclists pedal 170 kilometres from Pune to Mumbai for mental health advocacy

Participants of all ages, from senior citizens to children aged 12 years and above, joined the cause. Photo Courtesy: Mpower

Over 200 cyclists embarked on an inspiring journey from Pune to Mumbai, covering 170 kilometers in the 5th edition of 'Ride to Mpower' (RTM) cyclothon on February 25.

The two-day charity event, organised by Mpower, an initiative of Aditya Birla Education Trust, aimed to drive mental health awareness in the country. It saw participation not only by professional cyclists but also fitness enthusiasts eager to support the cause of mental health awareness.

Participants of all ages, from senior citizens to children aged 12 years and above, joined the cause. The 25-kilometer ride from Vashi to Birla Centurion welcomed riders of all age groups, while children had a blast in the Joy Ride, which was a lively 10-kilometer stretch from Sion to Birla Centurion. This collective effort of over 400 cyclists aimed to show support and drive awareness about mental health, striving to stamp out stigma associated with mental health.

Speaking at the finish line at Birla Centurion, Worli, Neerja Birla, founder and chairperson of Aditya Birla Education Trust and Mpower said, "Today, we gather to highlight the importance of raising awareness about mental health and the critical need for stigma-free conversations on this topic. It's imperative that individuals feel empowered to seek support from experts without any social stigma attached to it, I commend all the cyclists who participated in this movement to drive awareness for mental health. Your dedication and commitment are crucial in fostering a stigma-free conversation around mental health issues."

The culmination of the event saw the cyclists indulge in various activities like games, karaoke, and live band music after the cyclists were honoured with medals and certificates at the finish line by Birla and Parveen Shaikh, VP Operations at Mpower.

Ride to Mpower was conceived with the vision of fostering a sense of community, aiming to raise awareness about mental health and eliminate the stigma associated with it and goes beyond raising awareness for mental health. In a demonstration of its commitment, the event donated 1,000 kilograms of grains symbolising the calories burned by the participants during the ride, in addition to 20 cycles to select NGOs.