8 years! These mental health awareness and fundraising hikes started in 2015. Last year friends and I raised $5555. We are truly looking forward to this year's event 🙂
Follow us | Logistics | To donate | Silent auction | FAQ's | Media/other coverage | After party | Community brew
Follow us
Instagram
Facebook event page
Live updates throughout the event on Scott's Facebook page
Logistics
EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO JOIN US hiking a lap or more!
***Due to construction taking place on St Julien Road this spring, we will start and finish each lap at the Banff Centre***
Where - Banff Centre in front of Jenny Balzberg Theatre (MAP HERE)
Start - 5pm on Saturday June 18
Lap starting times - Saturday June 18 at 5pm, 7pm, 9pm, 11pm
Sunday at 1am, 3am, 5am, 7am, 9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm
Last lap - Sunday June 19 at 3pm start from in front of Jenny Balzberg Theatre (MAP HERE)
Finish - 5pm on Sunday June 19
EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO JOIN US hiking a lap or more!
To donate
Since our event has been chosen by Banff Ave Brewing Co as a community brew between July 1 and September 30...
We are keeping fundraising open until September 30!
We are truly grateful for all of the support that we have received. As of August 8 we have raised $6022!
1. Canada/USA residents via credit card (tax receipt mailed to you)
2. E-transfer or PayPal (no tax receipt mailed to you) - email 24hoursforbipolar@gmail.com
3. Cash in person at the event
Funds raised are split 50/50 between:
- supporting the incredible free resources that the Canadian Mental Health Association provides
- assisting students with athletic programs at Banff Community High School
Silent auction
Click here to go to the online silent auction website
MANY THANKS to various local and non-local companies who have donated items this year!
FAQs
Can anyone join you hiking? YES! Come join us hiking for a lap or more...or simply swing by to say hi. We'll be starting a lap every two hours - Saturday at 5pm, 7pm, 9pm, 11pm and Sunday at 1am, 3am, 5am, 7am, 9am, 11am, 1pm, and 3pm.
Are you hiking for 24 hours straight? No. Our group will be hiking 12 laps of Tunnel Mountain during a 24 hour period. It's not a race. We'll have breaks of between 15 to 30 minutes after each lap. The theme is "Together is Better" and we would love anyone joining us for a lap or more!
I'm slow and/or out of shape. Can I still join? YES! Scott Walker, the founder of the event, always hike at the back of each lap with the slowest person. And if that's you that is totally ok!
Is Tunnel Mountain a difficult hike? No. It is mostly moderate switchbacks. One lap of Tunnel Mtn consists of approximately 250 metres of elevation gain over a distance of 4.6 kilometres. That equates to just under 3 miles of walking up an 800 foot small mountain.
Is this event a race? NO. The theme of this event is "Together is Better". We hike at a moderate pace. And mentioned above, Scott always hikes at the back with the slowest person.
How many people are hiking for the full 24 hours? As of May 18, 2022 there are 17 awesome peeps hiking for the full 24 hours! I am truly grateful for all of their support 🙂
Can I hike with your group for the full 24 hours? YES! We more than welcome that! Please email scott@tiaho.org ASAP to go over logistics and to get all of your questions answered.
Do I have any safety concerns? The primary concern this year is that we'll start and finish each lap walking along Tunnel Mountain Drive. People hiking the full 24 hours will be at the front and back of the hiking group for each lap. They'll also be interspersed amongst the group. We will all do our best to ensure that everyone is safe during the entire event.
Can I run during this event? No. This is a hiking event and the theme is "Together is Better". We encourage you to talk with friends and new friends during the event! If you love running, I encourage you to join or plan your own running event on Tunnel Mountain 🙂
Why is the event called "24 hours for bipolar"? The founder of the event Scott Walker has lived with bipolar disorder type 1 since 2000. For him this event helps in reducing stigma and raising awareness of bipolar disorder. It's a mental illness that many people do not truly understand. The event is both in the daylight and in the dark...similar to someone's mental health being all good and challenging...while also highlighting the manic and depressive phases of bipolar disorder.
Where can I found out more information about your past events?
https://tiaho.org/awareness/
Any other questions that are not answered above? Email scott@tiaho.org
Media/other coverage
Banff Canmore Community Foundation story
Canmore 106.5 Mountain FM interview
Event pictures from Bow Media
Event pictures from Alex Howarth
After party
We're truly grateful that Banff Avenue Brewing Co is having an after party for us! It will be on Wednesday June 22 from 8pm to 11pm. Doing it a few days after the event will give some of us time to recover from the event! We'll be having a 50/50 draw and a silent auction with the proceeds going towards our fundraising. And also some draw prizes. Come join us to see existing friends and meet some new ones!
Community brew
Banff Avenue Brewing Co has kindly selected "24 hours for bipolar" as one of it's community brews from July 1 to September 30, 2022! Proceeds from the brew will support our fundraising! We are TRULY grateful for their support of our event's fundraising. Below are a few photos of our community brew's bottle and label.
