How This Man Is Motorcycling Across the World for Mental Health
Colby Ellis, a 29-year-old Canadian-Kiwi Engineer with a passion for travel and motorcycling, has embarked on a motorcycle ride around the world to help raise awareness of mental health and fundraise for HeadsUpGuys.
HeadsUpGuys is a unique online resource aimed at supporting men in their fight against depression. Since launching in June 2015, HeadsUpGuys has over 500,000 website visits (currently averaging over 18,000 per month).
Colby’s ride and aim to circumnavigate the world took off last month in March. The first leg of his trip includes riding across New Zealand, to Australia, to Southeast Asia and eventually all the way over to Europe.
Like many others, depression robbed Colby of many pleasures in life. During one of his lowest points, he found motorcycling. Though it entered his life for the wrong reasons, it was the inherent risk and danger he found attractive, and by a stroke of good fortune the pursuit turned into one of his greatest passions and supports on the road back to better health.
Colby is sharing his journey on Instagram through @VanColby_, through @milesforminds, and through his site Miles For Minds, which also features an ongoing series of “Happiness Diaries” — interviewing the people he meets, and asking them the simple, yet universal question: “What makes you happy?” Colby hopes you can help support his fundraiser to raise awareness and $5,000 for HeadsUpGuys.
Read more about Colby’s story, ride and fundraiser at Miles For Minds.
Updates from the road:
Images via Colby Ellis
Since recovering from experiences with depression in 2010, Josh has become a passionate advocate for mental health. Josh is currently the project coordinator for HeadsUpGuys, a website targeting men’s depression.
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