Rebound Child & Youth Services Northumberland is getting the wheels spinning for an upcoming cycling event that supports mental health wellness for Northumberland County kids, youth, and their families.
The fourth annual Ride for Rebound, a major fundraising event in partnership with Play It Again Sports Cobourg, takes place on Saturday, September 21.
For the fourth consecutive year, Cobourg Police Service Chief Paul VandeGraaf will be riding the 80-kilometre route. Community cyclists are joining him for rides ranging from 10 to 80 kilometres in length that wind through the hilly landscapes of Northumberland County.
The 10-kilometre route departs from Port Hope, the 25-kilometre route from Cobourg, the 45-kilometre route from Baltimore, and the 80-kilometre route from Brighton.
“Every kilometre we ride is a step towards a brighter future for our children and youth,” VandeGraaf said in a media release. “Mental health resources are critical, and through this event, we aim to bring attention and funding to the essential services provided by Rebound.”
Rebound said this year’s ride “promises to be an exciting day for cyclists of all levels and a crucial initiative to support the mental wellness of children, youth, and families in Northumberland County.
“This event is more than just a ride; it’s a community rallying for accessible and effective mental health support for young people.”
Rebound and the Cobourg Police Service have the common goal of fostering mental and emotional well-being for youth living in Northumberland.
The partnership “underscores the importance of early intervention and the lasting positive impact it can have,” Rebound noted.
Rebound is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing mental health support, literacy and learning programs, pro-social skills building, parenting and family support, and youth justice diversion. The organization has been serving children and families in Northumberland County since 1997. Its services are designed with the intentions of nurturing growth and helping young people reach their full potential, the release noted.
“Investing in our youth’s mental health is investing in our community’s future,” said Carol Beauchamp, Rebound’s interim executive director. “Each ride participant and supporter is making a significant difference in the lives of young people across Northumberland.”
Event organizers encourage cyclists to join the ride by choosing a route that matches their ability and to commit to a fundraising goal. This year’s fundraising target is $25,000, with all proceeds directed towards enhancing Rebound’s counselling programs, which is a cornerstone of its mental health services.
Rebound invites local businesses and corporations to consider supporting the event by providing sponsorship.
For more details about sponsorship opportunities or to register as a participant, visit rcys.ca/ride2024.
According to the Ontario government, approximately one in five children and youth in the province has a mental health challenge. About 70 per cent of mental health challenges have their onset in childhood or youth.
Early identification and intervention “is so critical and can lead to improved achievement in school and better health outcomes in life,” the province noted. “Many children and youth will exhibit different moods, thoughts and behaviours at various times that can be part of normal childhood development.”
Some examples include:
- Getting significantly lower marks in school
- Avoiding friends and family
- Having frequent outbursts of anger
- Experiencing changes to sleeping or eating habits
- Drinking a lot and/or using drugs
- Not doing the things he or she used to enjoy
- Worrying constantly
- Experiencing frequent mood swings
- Not being concerned with his or her appearance
- Being obsessed with his or her weight
- Lacking energy or motivation
- Feeling very down
These characteristics and behaviours may be signs of an underlying mental health concern or disorder if they are intense, persist over long periods of time, are inappropriate for the child’s age, or interfere with the child’s life.
The province encourages parents and caregivers to contact a mental health agency to get help for a child or youth with behavioural, emotional, or mental health and addiction issues.
In 2023, Rebound Child & Youth Services supported over 1,500 clients throughout Northumberland County, including children and youth ranging in age from 7 to 18. The organization offers mental health and parenting support services at no cost to children, youth, and families in the county.
For more information about Rebound and its services, visit the website at rcys.ca.
