On Saturday, 8th June, I will kickstart my 500 kms cycling ride (to Melaka and
back by Monday) to raise funds for the Mental Health Film Festival Singapore
(“MHFFS”).
I feel deeply privileged to channel my passion for cycling for such a meaningful
cause – challenges in endurance cycling about stress, mental fatigue, anxiety,
and monotony are relatable to challenges in going through mental health
issues. Interestingly, at the finish line of both journeys, both feel resilient, their
self-esteem boosted, and improved social life by making friends/support partners
along the way.

STIGMA however, is one element which starkly differentiates endurance cycling
and mental health issues – OUR 500kms RIDE IS TO FIGHT AGAINST THIS
DIFFERENTIAL ELEMENT, STIGMA, to raise awareness on mental health
wellbeing and thereby help reduce suicide rates among youth in Singapore.
How Does your Contribution Help:
Films, unambiguously, are the most potent medium of communication and
delivering a message. Your contribution will aid MHFFS in some of the their below
initiatives (not an exclusive list):
● Short Film Youth Competition (SFYC). This initiative encourages and
provides support to youth to create films and spread awareness on mental
health wellbeing.
● Annual Mental Health Film Festival. MHFFS hosts an annual Film Festival
where select films are screened and then discussed by an expert panel
thereafter. This year’s Film Festival will be held November 8-17th 2024,
save the date!
● MHFFS also conducts multiple roadshows and satellite events in schools,
corporates and community clubs.
● Movement for Mental Health with its objective to create an informal
environment to raise awareness on mental health wellbeing and encourage
youth to speak on the topic/issues.
Please help support my initiative (and of several other new riders who have
trained very hard for this cause) by:
➢ Making generous contributions
➢ Sharing this message with your friends, family and colleagues

– Gourav Lohani

About Mental Health Film Festival Singapore

MHFFS is a registered charity that conducts outreach events to raise awareness for people in Singapore to provide an inclusive and safe platform for stories about mental health. Through these programmes we hope to encourage early help- seeking. We have run 3 Mental Health Film Festivals, an inaugural roadshow in 2023, satellite events with various schools, corporates and community clubs and 3 Short Film Youth Competitions.

This year, MHFFS wants to utilize sports and engaging activities to create an informal environment that encourages open interaction and communication, fostering an atmosphere conducive to discussing mental health, a key pillar to what we do as an organization. By embracing physical activity, we aim to foster a community that supports mental wellness while challenging the negative perceptions associated with mental health.

With your support, we believe a little goes a long way in making a difference in the mental health landscape.

About Ray of Hope

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