The Ride On Riley Fund was established to assist others with depression struggles. Riley McCanna was a soft, thoughtful, generous and unselfish young man. A gifted athlete, he loved to skateboard, adored his many friends and was as caring as they came. His nurturing ways were recognized early on. In kindergarten, Riley's teachers paired him with a peer with a genetic disorder known as Down Syndrome, and the two formed a bond that remained all through grade school - while sending a positive message about acceptance and kindness to their classmates.

"He was a good friend. He was very empathetic," recalled Riley's father, Terry McCanna, MD., an Ophthalmologist at Chippewa Valley Eye Clinic in Chippewa Falls. "His heart was huge," added Kari McCanna, Riley's mother, a support staff member at Stillson elementary school and trainer at the Chippewa Valley Family YMCA, both in Chippewa Falls.

When he saw other people get teased or picked on, he felt for them. "That was one of the things he struggled with in the world," Terry shared. "He Felt other people's pain."

All the while, Riley was struggling with his own internal pain. The 15-year-old Chippewa Falls High School freshman took his life on April 14, after fighting depression for a year and a half. Over that time, Riley saw three doctors and three therapists, underwent group therapy and tried a number of medications and other therapies. "What they say, is depression sometimes is that way," Terry said. "Sometimes it's like cancer. You can't cure every case."

The McCanna's want people to learn from their son's tragedy. They want to erase the stigma often associated with depression, and they want people to recognize that it's caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain and not any kind of personal failure.

They also deeply hope that the Ride on Riley Fund, will help support their cause. While the details are still being finalized, their goal is to assist others with similar struggles. “We’re still in the beginning stages, but we hope Riley can make a difference,” Kari said. Terry added, that he appreciates the local way in which the fund will be able to help. While national causes and charities are indeed worthy of supporting, he feels a sense of comfort in knowing that assistance will be given directly in Chippewa County. “Somehow, I think if it stays in the community, you feel like it’s more tangible,” he said. “If you can get a speaker into the school of one of Riley’s friends or his brothers’ friends and they can be touched by it, that feels a little better. It feels like you’re actually accomplishing something.”

Kari echoed Terry’s sentiments and thanked the Community Foundation for helping them find a silver lining through tragedy. Forming this fund “sort of makes me feel like he’s still here,” Kari said. “It’s healing to me to be able to do this on his behalf,” she continued. “It’s just kind of a proactive way to keep him in my mind.”