A father and son from White Rock, B.C. are in the midst of a cross-Canada cycling journey to raise funds and support for nurses’ mental-health resilience. Dr. Andrew (Andy) Turnbull – a former White Rock Baptist Church pastor – and Judah Turnbull set out from Victoria on May 8, inspired by the resilience of Andy’s mom, Debby, a nurse who lives with mental illness that presented more than two decades ago, following a back injury at work. While unable to return to work due to
her mental health, being a nurse has remained an intrinsic part of who his mom is, Andy said last week during an interview from Caronport, Sask. It’s a reality for all nurses with mental-health challenges that he hopes their ‘Ride for Resilience’ will bring attention to. “I think that we don’t realize that when a nurse really struggles with their mental health, they can quickly, in the system, feel like they’re sidelined in their career, which is often very dear to them,” he said. “Mental
health can kind of unduly separate them from that world that they love to serve within, and almost strip them of an identity that they… feel like they haven’t let go of. “I think that it is an issue that we need to highlight more.” To that end, he and Judah have set a goal to raise $15,000 for the Canadian Nurses Foundation’s Healing Healthcare campaign, benefiting mental-health supports for nurses and nursing students across Canada. In a letter issued May 21, CNF’s chief executive
officer Chris McGarvey thanks supporters of the pair’s “incredible cross-Canada cycling journey in support of nurses’ mental health.” “Your generosity is helping shine a light on the challenges nurses face every day while honouring the legacy of a beloved nurse, mother, and grandmother whose compassion and dedication continue to inspire us,” Garvey writes. The ride “is about far more than the journey ahead,” the letter continues. “It is about recognizing the people who care for Canadians every day and ensuring they receive the support they
deserve in return.” Since setting out for St. John’s, Nfld., Andy and Judah – who moved to England 12 years ago – have forged ahead through all manner of weather; tough inclines; long hours pedalling through “beautiful” landscapes, including Alberta’s Badlands; and even a middle-of-the-night awakening by a coyote determined to get into their tent. Averaging around 110 kilometres per day, they’re supported by Andy’s in-laws, Glen and Debbie, who are hauling the duo’s camping gear and other supplies by van – quite literally taking
a load off of the effort and affording the pair a “way quicker” ride. Spanning around three months in all, the journey has been some 30 years in the making, and began 29 years after Andy survived a chilling snowboarding mishap on Mount Baker – one that left him wedged in a frozen hole for six hours and led to his heart stopping five times. Now a father of three, Andy remembers he was around Judah’s age now – 19 – when he first wanted
to ride across Canada. Years later, when Judah was a young boy, Andy suggested the two tackle it together after Judah graduated. It was an idea that Judah did not forget; one that finally came within reach when Andy’s sabbatical aligned with Judah’s pre-Oxford University gap year. “It kind of clicked that it would actually be possible,” Andy said. Planning and training began in earnest last fall, with Judah’s “edge” as an elite rower – including making it to the Henley Royal Regatta final three
years in a row – providing him a strong fitness base. Andy said while the ride has been physically demanding, the main emotional part has been linked to news in March that his mom is now also battling pancreatic cancer. “She’s currently stable, but that’s one thing that’s very kind of close to our hearts, as we’re watching how she’s doing and ready to kind of leave everything and head back west on a dime,” he said. A “really touching and stirring” component has been
people’s response to the Ride for Resilience. “It’s really brought the family together,” Andy said. “It feels more than just a father-son-holiday, two-guys-going-across-Canada. It feels like something bigger.” Judah agreed. “It became more than just a ride,” he said. “If the ride becomes challenging, (thinking of his grandma) gives a higher purpose for what you’re doing.” As well, “it’s so cool that something so simple like riding a bike in an easterly direction can bring about such interest” and funds. Andy’s younger brother, Carl, said
from White Rock that the family is “incredibly grateful for everyone’s support.” “We hope everyone who has a nurse in their life will share Andy and Judah’s fundraising efforts with them, and remind them that they are supported and don’t have to carry the weight alone.” As of Monday (June 1), Andy and Judah had crossed into Manitoba and were more than two-thirds of the way to their fundraising goal: $10,673. They’re aiming to reach St. John’s on July 4. Follow the pair’s journey on
findpenguins.com. To donate to the effort, visit canadahelps.org/en/pages/ride-for-resilience-7500km-victoria-to-st-johns-fo
B.C., White Rock, Victoria, St. John’s, cross-Canada cycling, Ride for Resilience, nurses’ mental health, Canadian Nurses Foundation, Healing Healthcare, Debby Turnbull, pancreatic cancer
Love the hustle, but 7,500 km?? That’s nuts.
So the nurses mental health is bad because they’re getting sidelined? I mean, sounds like management problems but idk. Either way good for them riding across Canada.
Wait is the dad like still a pastor or did he switch careers? My aunt was a nurse and she said it was mostly the hospital politics and like not enough breaks. Also 15,000 seems low if they’re doing 7,500 km, but I guess every bit helps.
This is why I don’t trust “the system” with mental health. They say it’s supporting nurses but then people like that mom can’t return to work for 20+ years… so what are they doing? I’m glad they’re fundraising though, but I swear stuff like this should’ve been fixed already.