Please consider a gift of $50, $100, $500 or $1,000 to help the Psyched to Climb team reach our fundraising goal of $100,000 to support the Pediatric Mental Health Institute at Children’s Hospital Colorado.

I’m participating in the Courage Classic for this first time this year. The virtual format makes it possible for me, a non-rider, to be a challenger in 2020. I have an autoimmune disease which causes muscle weakness so committing to a huge physical challenge is unrealistic for me. Instead, my challenge will be to do a minimum of an hour of physical activity every day in July. I will be doing Zoom Pilates, working out on our new “Corona-Peloton,” walking or hiking in beautiful Colorado. Living through the current pandemic, I am increasingly aware of the important connection between physical and mental health so I will be doing my best to live the healthiest life I can.

I’ve joined the Psyched to Climb team in memory of my late Uncle, Peter Melville, who suffered from severe mental illness for most of his life. Growing up, I witnessed my grandparents’ grief, fear and anxiety for their son combined with the terrible stigma associated with mental illness. My grandfather, who was a radiation-oncologist, was able to cure many of his patients who were suffering from cancer but he felt unable to help his own son.

I support the Pediatric Mental Health Institute at Children’s Hospital Colorado because it not only provides clinical care and support for patients and their families but also provides opportunities for behavioral health providers to engage in research. My hope is that this research into the causes of mental illness and into the connections between mental and physical health will lead to better treatments and improved outcomes for all those who suffer from mental illness.