Meet DANIEL HURD | Suicide Prevention Advocate; Youtuber; Creater of Smiles

We had the good fortune of connecting with DANIEL HURD and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi DANIEL, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I was born in Manchester, New Hampshire. And raised in Carver, Massachusetts, I tell people I’m from New England. I was physically sexually and mentally abused as a child, though I didn’t remember much until I was sober, 2016. I started using drugs at a young age. As early as I can remember of being seven as I got older the drugs and usages got harder. My saving grace was a family that took me in when I was 14. They pretty much gave me my best part of childhood. Till I was 18, I got to experience a lot of great things like playing sports, having a supportive family, they taught me the importance of work ethics. It was just a positive light in my life as a growing human. I joined the military, Navy, in 2007 did 2 deployments and got out in 2011. Those years were amazing for the friendships I made and would play a factor in my life later. Those years were also difficult with many reasons but most if not all of it was out of my control and I still feel the affects of my service. All of these led life expierences contributed to 3 suicide attempts and a plan for a 4th. That’s when my friend got me on a bicycle and changed my life. Leading to the plan to ride the lower 48 states for Suicide Prevention Awareness. Opaatmovement.com ridewithdanusa.com

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a handyman, bike mechanic (more certain pedicabs), cyclist youtuber and advocate for Suicide Prevention. My biggest accomplishment so far is bicycling the Lower 48 states for Suicide Awareness. I started my nonprofit One Pedal At A Time Movement during that epic journey in 2019. When I started that ride it was for my own healing and it was s9on realized I wasnt the only one that struggles. I began sharing my life expierences and what led me to the bicycle, people connected and started the Movement. My mission in life is make strangers smile. Sounds simple, it is.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
After cycling the lower 48 states, healing from my major accident that happened in my 44th State and saying I fulfilled my mission, I moved to Colorado. I get asked whats your favorite place you visited. I moved to it, Colorado. There is so much to do here in the denver area! My go to is obviously bicycling so Im taking them to all the bike rides that happen nearly every day of the week wither its in Boulder with my buddy Ryan Van Duzer or Denver with the wheelie group or the cruisers its going to be a good time. Sports events and concerts are huge here as well with Red rocks Amphitheater. Our parks and open spaces are amazing to visit from flat irons to garden of the gods. Pikes Peak to the Rocky Mountain National Park. I love going to the hot springs. Developed and undeveloped one are equally amazing depending on the vibes of the day. A lot of national chains start here Chipotle to name one. Illegal petes is a nice alternative but food in the mile high is good but nothing special in ny opinion.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shawn Carr was the friend who got me on the bicycle. The tool that changed my life and gave me purpose to make others smile. He just want to get people to ride with him and after my 3rd attempt he went from an asking way to hey we’re doing this today. I’m forever grateful for the change in tone because It got me out there. I wanted to spend time with someone that cared about me before I tried my 4th one. The bicycle became my outlet for success. The 4th faded away and the next thing I knew I was planning a trip to visit the friends I served with years before in the military. Shawn Carr sparked this as well, saying man when I was your age I wanted to bicycle across the country. That statement and my therapist suggestion to reconnect with my fellow servicemembers. That led to bicycling the Lower 48 states, starting an organization ONE PEDAL AT A TIME MOVEMENT and my platform RIDE WITH DAN USA.

Website: https://Ridewithdanusa.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ridewithdanusa/

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/ridewithdanusa/

Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCTPbl-OQ2LoplauGF_fU7Vg

Other: https://www.instagram.com/opaatm/
Opaatmovement.com (nonprofit)

Image Credits
Brett Hack Ryan Grewell Daniel Hurd