Road 2 Recovery Prepares to Launch First Phase of Max Matters Mental Health Initiative
This is a press release from R2R…
Encinitas, CA (September 11, 2021) – Following the introduction of the Max Matters Mental Health Initiative earlier this summer, the Road 2 Recovery Foundation (R2R), in conjunction with MX Sports Pro Racing, is prepared to launch the opening phase of the initiative. Working in collaboration with medical professionals and industry leaders, R2R has spearheaded the efforts to establish programs for support group meetings and a website resource portal, which will both begin in the fall.
The first support group meeting will take place on November 9 and will continue the second Tuesday of every month. The meetings will be conducted anonymously and will last an hour at a time, with attendees provided the option to use online, phone, or chat features. A “Group Break Out” feature will also be available for one-on-one conversations. Every meeting will be mediated by licensed and trained therapists and counselors, with specific topics for each respective session. Meeting topics will be voted on by participants via social media and the R2R website. Notably, meetings will be free for anyone to attend and will allow for individual follow up through a hotline number. Access to the meetings will be available on Road2Recovery.com.
The website resource portal is expected to launch on October 10 through the Max Matters Mental Health Initiative link on Road2Recovery.com. The page will serve as a resource for detailed information on all matters of mental health and will be broken down into detail with direct links for more efficient navigation—Insurance Assistance, Screening, Support Groups, Tools for Support, and more. Additionally, the portal will provide direct access to a vast resource of certified therapists and counselors, with interactive capabilities to detail which mental health professionals are accepting new clients, sorting filters to organize by state and other preferences, as well as a linked list of therapists and counselors that offer low hourly rates for uninsured clients. The web portal will also provide a list of 24-hour hotline numbers that offer mental health assistance through the convenience of a mobile device.
Max Matters was first established by Rick Doughty in October 2020, in conjunction with R2R. After the tragic loss of his son Max to suicide in 2019, Doughty partnered with R2R to create a change in narrative regarding this concerning pattern in our racing community. This past May, R2R announced the creation of an advisory group for the Max Matters Mental Health Initiative consisting of specially qualified professionals, industry leaders, current and past pro riders, and dedicated advocates. This group will continue to organize additional programs and make them available for athletes and the racing community.
Current members of The Max Matters Mental Health Initiative Committee include Rick Doughty, Dr. Reiman and Dr. Bodnar of the Alpinestars Mobile Medical Unit, MX Sports Pro Racing executives Tim Cotter and Roy Janson, Andrea Leib, Lesley Roberts, Mandie Fonteyn-Albert, and Lori Armistead. Individuals or groups interested in being involved in the committee, or would like to support the initiative, please contact Lori Armistead at Lori@Road2Recovery.com.
For more information on Road 2 Recovery, upcoming events and athlete updates, visit road2recovery.com or click here to make a donation.
New program geared toward aiding athletes and members of our racing community.
In a collaborative effort with MX Sports Pro Racing, the Road 2 Recovery Foundation (R2R) has joined forces with a group of medical professionals and industry leaders to officially launch a new mental health initiative specifically geared toward aiding athletes and members of the racing community. The Max Matters Mental Health Initiative, originally established in 2020 through fundraising efforts by Rick Doughty, is focused on bringing awareness to the broad spectrum that is behavioral health while providing direct access to resources and programs in one easily accessible place.
In 2019, Rick Doughty tragically lost his son Max to suicide and he later reached out to R2R in an effort to create a change in narrative regarding this concerning pattern in our racing community. Launching The Max Matters Mental Health Initiative fundraiser with R2R in October 2020, Rick’s initial effort raised $7500 and fundraising is still going strong with an approximate total standing at $22,000.
“The Max Matters Mental Health Initiative is being built around the foundation that all resources are geared to assist athletes at any stage of their career,” said Lori Armistead, Road 2 Recovery Director of Marketing and Public Relations. “It’s extremely important to us that we create each program using proper guidance from qualified professionals, doctors and counselors while keeping professional athletes in mind at all times.”
With help from key leaders, The Max Matters Mental Health Initiative Committee is amassing a group of specially qualified professionals, industry leaders, current and past pro riders, and dedicated advocates to diligently construct The Max Matters Mental Health Initiative. This advisory group, which includes executives from MX Sports Pro Racing, will establish programs specifically geared towards aiding athletes throughout all stages of their riding careers, as well as our direct racing community. More details on the programs, resources and access that this initiative covers will be released in the coming months.
“With extensive involvement in the off-road, amateur motocross, and professional motocross disciplines of the motorcycle racing industry, we recognized a need for support regarding the mental health of our athletes,” said Tim Cotter, Event Director, MX Sports Pro Racing. “Together, with the Road 2 Recovery and Rick Doughty, we have developed an initiative that will service our racers, and the motocross community as a whole, with much-needed resources and assistance surrounding behavioral health. The support Road 2 Recovery provides to the industry through its financial aid for injured members of the community is invaluable and we’re honored to help facilitate the expansion of their efforts to include mental health and embrace the need for this assistance within the community.”
The next fundraiser event is scheduled for Sunday, June 6, at Southern California’s Glen Helen Raceway. All money raised will go directly to The Max Matters Mental Health Initiative to cover the costs associated with the programs. More information on the event can be found on the R2R event page, while donations can be made at any time through the Max Matters page.
For more information on Road 2 Recovery, upcoming events and athlete updates, visit road2recovery.com or click here to make a donation. CN
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