Clara's Big Ride for Bell Let's Talk names Community Champions and unveils Clara's Jersey

Clara's Big Ride for Bell Let's Talk names Community Champions and unveils Clara's Jersey


-- Bell announces more than 80 Community Champions from local
mental health organizations across the country who will host
Clara Hughes in their communities
-- Clara unveils her official jersey for the Ride
-- Bell Let's Talk Day set for January 28, Clara's Big Ride begins
March 14


MONTREAL, Dec. 12, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Bell today announced the 82
Community Champions for Clara's Big Ride for Bell Let's Talk who will
play an integral role in welcoming Clara Hughes into their communities
during her 110-day ride around Canada to help raise awareness and
action in mental health and reduce the stigma around mental illness.



On her national bicycle tour through every province and territory,
Canada's six-time Olympic cycling and speed-skating medallist Clara
Hughes will invite people in communities large and small into the
mental health conversation and share her own story of mental health
challenges. Clara's Big Ride for Bell Let's Talk will span 12,000
kilometres over the course of 110 days, beginning in Toronto March 14,
2014, visiting 95 communities and concluding in Ottawa on Canada Day,
July 1.



"Our Community Champions are an incredible group of Canadians dedicated
to helping achieve a stigma-free Canada," said Clara. "I want to thank
them for their passion and commitment to growing the mental health
conversation. Clara's Big Ride for Bell Let's Talk would not be
possible without them."



Events across the country will be supported by local Community
Champions, skilled team builders who are knowledgeable about their
local mental health community. Each Community Champion has their own
distinct story but all share a common goal of increasing awareness of
the mental health challenge and reducing the stigma around mental
illness. Each Community Champion will engage with others in their
communities to build unique and meaningful events around Clara's Big
Ride that will directly benefit local mental health efforts. The
complete list of Community Champions can be found at Bell.ca/ClarasBigRide.



"Community Champions are tremendous leaders who are working at a
grassroots level to make a positive difference in their own
communities, growing awareness, acceptance and action in mental health
issues," said Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let's Talk. "We are thrilled
that these remarkable individuals have joined Clara's Big Ride for Bell
Let's Talk and applaud them for their invaluable leadership role in
growing the conversation around mental health."



Clara's Big Ride for Bell Let's Talk will also engage with Canadian
youth, the next generation to carry the mental health conversation
forward. At schools and youth organizations across the nation, young
people will have the opportunity to hear first-hand from Clara, share
in the mental health discussion, and develop new ideas to grow the
conversation and fight the stigma in their own communities.


Clara's Big Ride Jersey

Clara also unveiled her Clara's Big Ride Jersey produced by Pearl Izumi
and designed with Clara's guidance. To be worn by Clara during her
110-day journey across Canada, the jersey will be available for
purchase in early 2014 with proceeds donated to Bell Let's Talk partner
Kids Help Phone. A photo of the jersey can be found here.


Share in the Ride

Every Canadian can participate in Clara's Big Ride for Bell Let's Talk
through community events and social media. For more information, please
visit Bell.ca/ClarasBigRide or follow the latest Ride news on Facebook at Facebook.com/BellLetsTalk or on Twitter at @Bell_LetsTalk.


National Partners

Clara's Big Ride is powered by the support of our National Partners -
Aimia, BMO, Canadian Tire, Cisco, CTV, Lundbeck, President's Choice and
Samsung - who are providing significant support for the Ride. For more
information on our National Partners, please visit Bell.ca/ClarasBigRide/Partners.


Bell Let's Talk Day is January 28

The Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative is a national charitable
program that promotes mental health across Canada with significant
funding for community care, research and workplace best practices, and
fights the stigma around mental illness with the high-profile Bell
Let's Talk Day. Set for January 28, 2014, the fourth annual Bell Let's
Talk Day invites Canadians to join the conversation and help end the
stigma around mental illness. On Bell Let's Talk Day, Bell donates 5
cents for every text sent and long distance call made by Bell and Bell
Aliant customers, every tweet using #BellLetsTalk, and every Facebook
share of the Bell Let's Talk Day image. To date, Bell has already
committed to invest $62,043,289.30 in Canadian mental health based on
Bell Let's Talk Day participation.


About Bell

Bell is Canada's largest communications company, providing consumers and
business customers with wireless, TV, Internet, home phone and business
communications services. Bell Media is Canada's premier multimedia
company with leading assets in television, radio and digital media.
Bell is wholly owned by Montréal's BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE). For more
information, please visit Bell.ca.


SOURCE Bell Canada

Image with caption: "Clara Hughes unveils her official jersey for Clara's Big Ride for Bell Let's Talk. (CNW Group/Bell Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131212_C9994_PHOTO_EN_34906.jpg

Bell Canada

CONTACT: Jacqueline Michelis
Bell Media Relations
1-855-785-1427
jacqueline.michelis@bell.ca
@Bell_News


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