Richard Eyram, pictured with his wife Pam in Vancouver on Wednesday, will be cycling across the country to raise money for Kids Help Phone, where Ms. Eyram volunteers.ETHAN CAIRNS/The Globe and Mail
The organizers: Richard and Pam Eyram
The pitch: Raising $100,000
The cause: Kids Help Phone
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020 and restrictions were placed on social movements, Pam Eyram started volunteering with Kids Help Phone, one of the few national services available to help young people facing mental health challenges.
Ms. Eyram, 55, had been a long-time social worker in Toronto and she specialized in work with children. She’d known about KHP and decided to volunteer with the organization when social restrictions meant that she couldn’t meet clients in person. “I always worked with kids, so then I pivoted to that,” she explained.
Toronto-based KHP was launched in 1989 and serves young people from the age of five to 29 across Canada. The charity offers free, around-the-clock counselling by phone or text in dozens of languages. Last year the organization fielded nearly four million calls as demand for the service increased by 30 per cent from 2024. “Sometimes these conversations are raw,” said Ms. Eyram, who has remained a volunteer.
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A few months ago, Ms. Eyram and her husband Richard were talking about the lack of mental health services in many parts of the country. “So we thought, how about if Rich rides his bike and I drive the support van and stop in small communities and just share what this one mental health support that’s available is?” she recalled.
That led to a cross-Canada tour the couple will begin on May 31 and finish around Labour Day. Mr. Eyram will cycle from Vancouver to Halifax while Ms. Eyram follows in a van. They hope to raise awareness about KHP and $100,000 for the charity.
Mr. Eyram, who is also 55 and worked in the tech sector, said they have several friends who have been impacted by mental health issues, including three who died by suicide. “Dozens of people have now reached out to me personally to say, ‘How can I help?,” he said.
He and Ms. Eyram are excited about the trip and are encouraging people to talk about mental health. But he’s wary about riding 7,700 kilometres on a bike. “This is going to be gruelling,” he said with a laugh.