To coincide with stage 18 of the Tour de France, the Specialized Foundation launched the ‘Outride ADHD’ campaign to create awareness of an under-appreciated method to combat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The foundation aims to educate doctors, parents and teachers about the merits of cycling for children diagnosed with ADHD.
We all appreciate the value of a good bike ride. Cycling offers freedom from the blue-lit screen, it brings together like-minded people and it inspires endorphin-firing efforts out on the open road. Racing and competition often take the headlines in the cycling community, but the power of the bicycle goes far beyond that. The Specialized Foundation chose the Tour de France for its ‘Outride ADHD’ campaign launch in the hope of inspiring the international cycling community to join the movement and create a healthier future.
Established in 2015, the Specialized Foundation works to introduce all students to the positive effects that cycling can have on everyday life, academic performance, health and well-being. The foundation puts a particular focus on young people with learning difficulties like ADHD and has partnered with Stanford University to conduct further research into cycling’s impact on the symptoms.
The study built upon existing research which found that focus and mood could be improved by the simple act of a bike ride. The Specialized Foundation subsequently proved that a single cycling session could significantly improve measures of attention in ADHD students.
The ‘Outride ADHD’ campaign was developed in partnership with Goodby Silverstein & Partners (GS&P) to run throughout the summer in schools and communities across the United States. It is part of the Specialized Campaign’s wider program, Riding for Focus, to promote the use of cycling as a tool for educational success.
Though its roots are on the other side of the Atlantic, the message and the methods presented in this campaign transcend borders and the foundation hopes to make a difference all over the world. The objective is to come together as one cycling community, join the movement and outride ADHD. Click here to find out more.
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