In Crisis? Canada and USA Suicide Crisis Hotline - 9-8-8
About For The Love of Kate I Ride
Our Story
My name is Doug Harris and like so many others, tragically, my 32-year-old daughter Kate died by suicide in late August of 2016. Kate was a wonderful and caring daughter, friend, sister and aunt who should have had so much living yet to do.
As her Dad, I was blind to her struggles with mental health. She would occasionally touch on it, bu
My name is Doug Harris and like so many others, tragically, my 32-year-old daughter Kate died by suicide in late August of 2016. Kate was a wonderful and caring daughter, friend, sister and aunt who should have had so much living yet to do.
As her Dad, I was blind to her struggles with mental health. She would occasionally touch on it, but I had no idea what was lurking just below the surface. Admittedly, even if she had shared more with me, I'm not so sure I would have recognized the full extent of her pain. Outwardly, she was just too strong, happy and generous for me to understand her struggle.
I knew from the start that Kate's story could not end with her death. She was a special lady, and her death had to mean something! My hope is that by sharing Kate's story, others will live and prosper. That people suffering will reach out and ask for help, that those recipients entrusted with receiving such an ask will be understanding and help steer the person in an appropriate direction, that employers will be compassionate and non-judgmental and that health care providers will have the tools and talent to ensure a positive outcome.
In honour of Kate, with the support of my wonderful wife Brenda and our dog Lily, in 2019 I bicycled over 2,200 kms from London, Ontario (Kate's birthplace) to Halifax, NS (where Kate lived and died). Through this initiative, and with the help of many wonderful people, our family was proud to have raised over $25,000 in support of London Ontario's St. Joseph's Healthcare Foundation - an amazing group of people we have been very proud to support!
https://www.sjhc.london.on.ca/foundation
For more information on my ride, please check out my blogs - which were updated daily as I rode across Eastern Canada.
The time has now come for a new initiative. With the help of our friends at the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) - Thames Valley (our local London Ontario chapter), and some very special people from London Ontario's "London International Airport", it is time to "Ride the Runway!!!"