Sean Keenan to bike 115 miles for Mental Health Awareness in honor of late mother
On Aug. 16, Sean P. Keenan will set out on a 115-mile cycling journey from Kinston to Raleigh to raise awareness and funds for mental health research in memory of his mother, Mary, who died by suicide in 2007.
Keenan, a Marine Corps veteran, has been “riding for hope” since 2010, participating in events across the country and even while deployed overseas. This year’s ride coincides with what would have been his mother’s birthday.
He said he hopes to challenge misconceptions about mental illness, noting that it affects people from all walks of life. “We encounter people who suffer from mental illness hundreds of times a day, whether they have an illness or love someone who does, and we have no idea of their pain,” Keenan said.
Growing up in North Raleigh, Keenan said his mother battled mental illness her entire life, creating a home environment where he never knew what to expect each day. “It is intuitive that people who suffer from mental illness suffer,” he said. “What is not intuitive is how much the people around them suffer, especially the people who love them.”
After her death, Keenan and his sister, Kelly Pittman, created the Team Mary Fund through the Foundation of Hope to support research into treatment and prevention of mental illness. All donations from this year’s ride will go to the fund.
“Riding a bike long distance is hard, but coping with mental illness is harder,” Keenan said. “The greatest rewards in life come from doing hard things.”
The 115-mile trek will conclude in Raleigh at the location where thousands gather each fall for the Walk for Hope. Supporters can donate to the ride online, with contributions ranging from $25 to sponsor a mile to $250 or more for major research support.
For more information on donating or becoming a corporate sponsor, visit Sean P. Rides For Hope website.
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