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Six down, four to go… Cross-Canada cyclist reaches Atlantic Canada

Aug. 25, 2010

Wayne Stremel, the Canada Post employee cycling across Canada to raise awareness of the issue of mental illness and funds for the Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health, has reached Atlantic Canada and is weeks away from finishing his epic journey. Averaging 100 km daily, Wayne has now travelled over 6725 kilometres of his planned 7,500 kilometres, Out of the Shadows tour.  

“I’m humbled by the reaction we’re getting everywhere we’ve stopped,” Wayne says. “People are genuinely interested in what we’re doing and want to know how to help. I’m as much in awe of their generosity as I am by the beauty I’ve seen in every province, and I’m thoroughly enjoying the charm of Atlantic Canada!”

“Wayne set out to make a difference—and that is exactly what he’s doing. Every person he meets on this journey has a new understanding of the issues around mental illness,” noted Anthony Wilson-Smith, Vice-president of Communications and Public Affairs, with responsibility for the mental health cause at Canada Post. “Since mental health became our cause of choice, our employees and customers have raised $2.5 million that has been distributed to mental health groups across the country; but raising money is just one of our goals. The other is to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness, something Wayne has become a champion at.”

The Out of the Shadows Tour has prompted fundraisers from post offices across the country who have challenged each other and let Wayne know they’re behind him. BBQ’s, ice cream sales, fellowship rides, 50/50 draws and other grassroot efforts have resulted in over $20,000 being raised in the tour’s name to date. Canada Post has announced it will match donations made in support of the Tour, to a maximum of $150,000.

The Out of the Shadows Tour began on June 2 with a dip of Wayne’s bicycle tire into the Pacific Ocean at Parksville, B.C. It will end in September at Neils Harbour, Nova Scotia (after making a detour via ferry to St. John's, Newfoundland) when Wayne will deliver a post card from Iris Hayden, the lead-hand employee at the Parksville Post Office, to her sister, Laura Rose, who lives in Neils Harbour.

Canada Post is proud to support Wayne’s effort and encourages Canadians to visit his blog at www.outoftheshadowstour.ca, where they can keep pace of the tour’s progress, emerging information, upcoming events and donate to the Tour.