Mental health ride

David Bellefeuille was a loving husband, brother, father, uncle, friend, and active community member. Like many loved ones around us, David struggled with mental illness and was a patient in the Queensway Carleton Hospital (QCH) Mental Health unit. Unfortunately, David eventually lost his battle and tragically took his own life in 2018. 

Mary, David’s wife, is proud of her children, Shannon, Patrick, and Joseph, who advocate for mental health. The Bellefeuille family saw firsthand the state of the outdated Mental Health unit at QCH while their father was a patient, describing it as dark, dingy, and unwelcoming. They knew from that moment that QCH patients deserve better, and change was needed. So, they were determined to create a legacy for their beloved dad by raising much-needed funds for renovations to the Mental Health unit.

David was an avid cyclist, so in honour of what would have been his 58th birthday last July, they launched their Bike Ride for Mental Health fundraising campaign in support of the QCH Foundation (pictured below). The campaign received overwhelming support from family and friends and raised an incredible $31,120 for QCH.

This year, on July 24, the Bellefeuille family is holding their second annual Bike Ride for Mental Health. Family and friends will be completing a 100km route around Palmerston Lake – a ride that David enjoyed – to raise the much-needed funds to improve mental healthcare for our community. 

Whether you can get out for a bike ride or make a financial contribution, your efforts will go a long way in helping people like David. All donations to this campaign will help support the revitalization of the QCH Mental Health unit so that members of our community suffering from mental illness can get the best care possible.

Thank you for your generous contribution to QCH and the Bellefeuille family’s tribute to David.