OLYMPIC MEDALIST CLARA HUGHES TO VISIT AKWESASNE

TERRITORY OF AKWESASNE – Akwesasne will be one of 95 communities visited by Olympic cycling and speed-skating medalist Clara Hughes next week as part of the athlete’s national bicycle tour to raise awareness in mental health.

Clara’s Big Ride for Bell Let’s Talk is a 110-day voyage the athlete has committed to, beginning on March 14, 2014 in Toronto and taking her to every Canadian province before concluding on Canada Day, July 1, 2014 in Ottawa. She will cover 12,000 km in total. On March 25, her tour will bring her to Kawehno:ke (Cornwall Island), Akwesasne.

Clara is an athlete for all seasons. She’s one of the biggest stories to emerge in Canadian sports, and she’s not finished yet. A six-time Olympic medalist on cycling and speed skating, she’s the only athlete in history to win multiple medals in both Summer and Winter Olympic Games. She was the Canadian flag bearer for the 2010 Vancouver Games Opening Ceremony, proudly leading the home team to its historic medal winning performance and she also represented Canada with distinction in London in 2012. She is a true inspiration to athletes of all ages.

Akwesasne and the surrounding communities are invited to attend a reception for Clara at the Ahkwesahsne Mohawk School where the athlete will share her own personal experiences with mental health issues, in an effort to reduce the stigmas that exist. Her goal is to empower youth to understand what mental health means to them and how they can support others who may be suffering.

Clara Hughes Welcoming Reception

Tuesday, March 25th

7 – 9 p.m.

Ahkwesahsne Mohawk School

All are welcome!