The courageous efforts of participants in outdoor adventure camps for people living with mental illness is the inspiration for a 1,450km “Camp n Cycle for Mental Health” ride around Victoria, which began on 17 April and finishes on 7 May.
Director of the Mental Health Access and Participation Project at YMCA Victoria, Liz Leorke, is tackling the grueling three week ride with the support of her partner Cameron Stewart and others to raise awareness of the physical and social health needs of people experiencing mental illness, and to raise funds to allow YMCA Victoria to continue running the camps, which have shown promising results.
Liz has taken the initiative to do the ride in her own time to support the cause close to her heart. Her determination has caught the attention of the Victorian Minister for Mental Health, Lisa Neville, who helped Liz launch the ride.
Having battled depression and an eating disorder in the past, Liz understands how confronting just going on camp can be for others living with chronic mental health issues. At camp, she’s witnessed participants take huge leaps in their connections with others, and improvements in their physical quality of their life - an achievement backed up by evidence from the Orygen Youth Health Research Centre.
“I want to stress that my effort is no greater than the effort it can take for someone living with mental illness to leave their home for four days to attend an outdoor adventure camp, leaving behind all of their usual supports that they need to simply function – and then taking on new challenges,” says Liz.
“Having seen what camp can do for participants, I’ll ride every kilometre with that as my motivation.”
More than 250 people living with mental illness have already experienced the program – many camping for the first time ever. Funded by the Department of Planning and Community Development, Sport and Recreation Victoria until June 2010, Liz’s initiative hopes to ensure the longevity of the program to enable its benefits to continue in the community.
Visit www.lizleorke.com to follow Liz's efforts, or to find out how you can show your support.
The Camp n’ Cycle for Mental Health is supported by YMCA Victoria, YMCA Geelong, Department of Planning and Community Development, Sport and Recreation Vic, Department of Health, Mental Health and Drugs Division, SANE Australia and the Australian Camps Association and many other generous supporters.