I was born in Regina in the midst of the depression during the Regina riot. These were hard times. I grew up poor. My father joined the army in 1939 when I was four. Within days he was shipped off to England. That's the only work there was in those days.

After the war things improved somewhat. By the time I got to high school both my parents were working. I went to Luther College in Regina and from there to the U of Sask in Saskatoon on my way to a theology degree at Luther Seminary.

Off and on I was a pastor for about 20 years, in Minnesota, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. During this time I was also Director of a Friendship Centre in Manitoba, and for 15 yrs a probation officer in BC. I also did a stint as a financial planner (CFP).

Cycling has been a lifelong passion. I raced in the little 500 in University, and did a lot of recreational cycling. I ran in about 10 marathons and took part in more than 25 races of more than 25 km. I've also done long distance snow shoeing and canoeing. Doing the big ride across Canada has long been a dream and I'm looking forward to it.

My years of working with disadvantaged people formed my passion for justice and peace. I have been a member of Kairos and the Task Force For Justice in the Americas for years, and am happy to be associated with the cause for understanding mental illness.

Even though I spent 4 years in the Swedish armed services I'm a pacifist at heart and would rather help than hinder, rather negotiate than dictate. I have always had a strong faith in a creator God and the Golden Rule "Do to others as you want them to do to you." My worship life is in a Lutheran congregation and has always been.

I tend to support the underdog however I also support people of excellence and people committed to task. Do what you say you will do, action rather than inaction.

Most of my professional life has been with BC-Hydro in a number of locations in the province of BC and positions.

I have always been active through hiking, biking, skiing and such activities. I have also served in the scouting movement, service clubs and faith communities.

I'm married (32 years) with 4 children, two grandchildren and a third on the way.

Gerry is a 56 years old lawyer and mediator. He has recently retired from an active labour law practice and now limits his work primarily to family mediation. He and Terry, his wife of 34 years, have two children, Tom, an engineer working in Ghana and Alexis, a student at Capalino College.

Several years ago Gerry made a foolish suggestion to his friend Jan Nilsson at Hope Lutheran Church in Nanaimo. He said "When we retire why don't we just hop on our bikes and ride across the country". Well, he said it to the wrong person. Jan took him seriously and here they are training for the bicycle ride of their life, now joined by their friend Charlie Fox.

Gerry spent some time in the early part of his legal career acting for and administering the legal aid system in Nanaimo. In this work he became acutely aware of the unfortunate interplay between the homeless with mental illness problems and the court system. He saw jails used to deal with social problems they were never designed to address and he watched as people needing scarce mental health services were diverted into the court and jail systems simply because there were no available mental health services.

A few years ago Gerry became involved in the local organization Open Minds Open Windows an association created by Ron Plecas for the purpose of fighting the stigma attached to mental illness. When the opportunity to help the homeless mentally ill came about through this bicycle trip it seemed a natural fit. So the Ride into Light was born.