Merrittonians will have a chance to meet with dual Olympian Clara Hughes next week as she stops in at the Civic Centre on her cross-Canada bike tour to break the stigma around mental health issues.

Hughes is the spokesperson for Bell Canada’s Let’s Talk campaign, which Clara’s Big Ride supports.

The 41-year-old Manitoban athlete also has a personal connection to the cause: she has struggled with depression.

The accomplished cyclist and speedskater will speak at the Merritt event on Tuesday evening after she arrives in Merritt from Hope.

The event kicks off at 5 p.m. with a performance by the Nicola Valley Community Band and features a hotdog barbecue meal for $5 and a silent auction. Local entertainers and speakers will follow, and Hughes will speak between 7:15 and 7:45 p.m.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Nicola Family Therapy, which offers counselling services to families, individuals and couples in the Nicola Valley.

Nicola Family Therapy counsellor and “community champion” for the event MJ Berezan said while the event has been plenty of work to organize, there has also been plenty of support for the cause.

However, Berezan said she and other organizers are still looking for volunteers and auction prizes, and anyone interested can call her at Nicola Family Therapy at 378-9222.

“We’d like to give her a good welcome and support the cause,” Berezan said.

Nicola Family Therapy’s main mandate is to provide counselling to women and children affected by domestic violence, and they also have contracts with the Ministry of Children and Family Development and one with NVIT.

People who fall under those contracts can access counselling services for free.

However, counsellors occasionally see people who can’t afford the fee-for-service rate and who don’t fall under the contracts for services, Berezan said.

The money raised at Tuesday’s event will go toward filling that service gap.

“Any money that we raise is going to help us to continue to provide services to community members and particularly people who don’t fit under our current contracts,” she said. “We’re quite excited about that.”

She said the ability to serve those seeking counselling is needed in Merritt.

“Often, we get people referred or coming in or self-referred that don’t really fit under any of those, and yet they definitely have some issues,” Berezan said.

“A high percentage of the people that we work with are also dealing with mental health issues, whether it’s anxiety or depression or a combination of. It gives us a little more leeway.”

In the foyer at the Civic Centre, there will be a display area with information from Nicola Valley agencies related to mental health services.

The next morning, Hughes will speak at an assembly at Merritt Secondary School before heading off to Kelowna.

In total, Hughes will ride 12,000 kilometres and speak in dozens of communities across Canada to raise awareness of mental health issues.

Individual and family tickets are available at NVIT, Nicola Family Therapy, Country Bug Books and Gifts, Brambles Bakery and Black’s Pharmacy.