Clara Hughes, second from right, speaks to a crowd in Winnipeg after arriving on Saturday, June 14, 2014 to Clara Hughes Recreation Park. (TED GRANT / CHRISD.CA)
Clara Hughes (TED GRANT / CHRISD.CA)
WINNIPEG — Six-time Olympic medallist Clara Hughes rode into her hometown Saturday to a rainy reception as part of her cross-country cycling tour.
Hughes is championing Clara’s Big Ride for the Bell Let’s Talk campaign to raise awareness of mental illness. The 12,000-kilometre trek is being carried out over 110 days and will finish in Ottawa on July 1.
Hughes arrived to the recreation park named after her on Henderson Highway at around 2:30 p.m. and gave a brief speech to the dozens who came out to welcome her. She was joined by former Olympic speed skating teammate Christine Nesbitt, who rode on the brief leg of the tour from Portage la Prairie to Winnipeg.
The day ended with “Manitoba’s Big Social For Clara’s Big Ride” at the Manitoba Museum.
On Monday, Hughes will visit her alma mater, Elmwood High, to participate in a school presentation.
