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A Saskatchewan motorcycle instructor is preparing to push his mind and body to the absolute limit this summer, embarking on a gruelling 6,000-kilometre cross-country trek to battle the rising crisis of men’s suicide.
In late August, Regina’s Terry Alberts will kick off “The Long Haul for Mental Health,” an ultimate endurance challenge that will see him navigate Canada’s highways from Halifax, N.S, all the way to Vancouver, B.C.
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The twist? He plans to complete the entire journey in under 75 hours.
The extreme ride is a certified “Trans Canada Gold Iron Butt” challenge — an elite milestone achieved by only a selective group of long-distance riders worldwide.
To survive just over three days in the saddle, Alberts will need immense physical endurance, absolute mental focus, and precise logistical planning.
For the veteran instructor, who brings nearly 30 years of saddle experience to the tarmac, the gruelling nature of the trip is entirely intentional.
He says the extreme challenge directly mirrors the silent, heavy uphill battle that millions of men face every single day with their mental health.
“In my line of work and in everyday life, I see men grinding through immense pressure while keeping their struggles completely hidden,” Alberts said in a news release.
“Society teaches men to internalize their pain, which too often ends in tragedy.”
According to mental health advocates, approximately three out of every four suicides in Canada are committed by men and suicide remains one of the leading causes of death among the young and middle-aged.
Stigma, shame, and societal expectations heavily deter men from seeking professional care or talking openly to their families about depression, Alberts said, and his ride aims to break that silence by raising vital funds and awareness for HeadsUpGuys, an independent non-profit organization dedicated to supporting men facing depression and preventing suicide.
HeadsUpGuys provides men with practical, actionable tools, self-assessments, and a global therapist directory tailored specifically to combat these statistics and save lives.
“This ride is about pushing past the comfort zone to show men they don’t have to carry that weight alone,” Alberts explained.
“If pushing my mind and body to the absolute limit for 75 hours can get even one man to put his hand up and ask for help, every single kilometre will be worth it.”
The cross-country journey officially kicks off on the Atlantic coast on Aug. 29, with a targeted arrival in Vancouver by Sept. 1.
After the marathon ride, the campaign will culminate at the ‘Get Lost Find Yourself’ fundraiser event on Vancouver Island on Sept. 3, 2026.
Donations cam be made at headsupguys.org with 100 per cent of proceeds going straight to funding HeadsUpGuys programs.
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