WATCH ABOVE: A young woman who suffered a brain injury as a teenager completed a Montreal to Halifax cycling fund raising journey Wednesday. Global’s Ray Bradshaw caught up with Lori White on the final leg of her journey.
LANTZ, NS – An Ontario woman who suffered a brain injury as a teenager has just completed a bicycle journey from Montreal to Halifax. Lori White left Montreal on her bicycle on July 13th.
When she was 14, White was involved in a motor vehicle accident, but her traumatic brain injury wasn’t diagnosed for another ten years.
“I went all through high school mentally, physically, emotionally, and finally second year of university I ended up getting a diagnoses from a doctor that referred me to get a neuropsycho assessment done,” said White.
She wants to help others get the help they need. So the Niagara Falls, Ontario woman set out on her Montreal to Halifax fund-raising journey, just over two weeks ago.
“The goal for the ride is obviously to raise money for two agencies back home Pathstone Mental Health and the Ontario Brain Injury Association,” said White. “The fund raising goal was 15-thousand dollars. In addition to that, the goal was to raise awareness in regards to those two causes with regards to education and support and services, back home and across the country, and ending stigma surrounding those two causes.”
Her parents came along for the ride to lend a helping hand, following in their camper.
“I’m very proud,” said Lori’s mother, Maureen. “I know I couldn’t do it if it was me. I wouldn’t have the courage to go take it on, and ride some of those mountains in the rain. No thank you.”
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Lori White says she still has lingering effects of her accident 24 years later. She needs more time to do things because it’s difficult to concentrate, but her experience has made her passionate about mental health.
“I’m a teacher back home,” said White, “and I deal with young people on a daily bases and see their struggles first hand, you know, with respect to mental health.”
She says she’s raised about half the $15,000 she was hoping for, although she still plans to auctioned off her bike, worth $1300.
“Good job.” said Maureen to Lori before the daughter headed out on the last leg of her journey.
White officially completed her journey when arrived at Pier 21 in Halifax late this afternoon.
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