Meet the founders of Men don’t ride alone
Valentin Duquenne
This cause is deeply personal to me.I’ve faced mental health challenges since my teenage years, and for a long time I pretended to be fine. In September 2025, I made the decision to finally seek help for both addiction and anxiety for the first time in years after not seeing a psychiatrist for a long time.That night, speaking out changed everything. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be writing this today or preparing for this journey.Myself and Thomas are taking this on with very little cycling experience. I’ve been in good shape for years, but I haven’t stepped on a bike in a long time. The challenge, the growth, and the commitment this ride represents are exactly what make it so meaningful.If you’ve read this far, thank you.Whether it’s a sponsorship, a donation, a wave on the street, a kind message, or a few words of encouragement it all matters. Every bit of support fuels this journey and reminds us why we’re doing it.See you soon, Victoria.
thomas clark
I’m joining Val on this incredible journey because I’ve always wanted to take on something that would push me far beyond my comfort zone, something that would challenge both my body and mind in ways that feel almost impossible.Biking across Canada felt like exactly that challenge but this trip is about much more than the ride itself.The cause we’re riding for is men’s mental health and is something deeply personal to me. It’s not something I usually speak openly about, but I’ve lived with ADHD my entire life after being diagnosed in second grade. The mental battles that can come with it have impacted me through many different stages of life. That’s why this journey means so much to me.It’s a reminder that nobody should have to carry their struggles alone. There are people who understand, who care, and who genuinely want to help.Being able to raise money and awareness for mental health support is something I’m truly proud to be part of and if this ride helps even one person feel less alone, then every kilometre will be worth it.Thank you for supporting the journey, see you in Victoria.more about us and our mission.
Men Don’t Ride Alone was built on friendship, brotherhood, and the belief that nobody should have to fight their battles alone.
What started as two friends wanting to take on an impossible challenge quickly became something much deeper than biking across Canada.
This journey is personal to both of us. Like so many others, we’ve each faced our own struggles with mental health in silence. Anxiety, ADHD, pressure, self-doubt, and the feeling that we always had to keep everything bottled up inside. For years, we pushed through life pretending we were okay instead of asking for help.
This ride represents the exact opposite of that silence.
It’s about vulnerability. It’s about perseverance. It’s about learning that strength doesn’t come from hiding what you’re going through — it comes from facing it head on.
In June 2026, we will leave St. John’s, Newfoundland and ride all the way to Victoria, British Columbia while documenting every part of the journey. The good days, the hard days, the exhaustion, the setbacks, and the moments that remind us why this mission matters.
We are not professional cyclists.
We’re just two ordinary guys willing to put everything we have into something bigger than ourselves in hopes of starting conversations that too many people are afraid to have.
Along the way, we hope to show people that they are not weak for struggling, not broken for asking for help, and never alone in what they’re carrying.
This isn’t just about crossing Canada.
It’s about proving that even through pain, uncertainty, and adversity, people are capable of incredible things when they lean on each other and keep moving forward together. Every kilometre represents resilience. Every conversation matters. Every person we reach makes this journey worth it.
Because at the end of the day, nobody should have to ride alone.
