One of the most powerful things we can do is tell stories that connect with lives.  The only thing better than telling these stories is to gather together to share them — and support one another through them.

The 3rd film in the award winning Maah Daah Hey Film Series by director John Peter turns the camera back to Peter and shares about navigating life after a serious mental health diagnosis.  But it is also a project working with communities to expand the discussions beyond just a single viewing; it is about helping those in need to have the connections and resources to actually get help.  

The true goal here is to raise as much money as possible towards hosting premieres.  Below are our fundraising goals for this project:

Our $7,500 goal is the minimum we need to raise to complete our Production!
We have set a total goal of $15,000 but the reality of this is that for every $1000 above $7,500 that we get, we can add an additional premiere around the US to the tour.  This money makes it easier to coordinate with communities and host events in places that maybe wouldn’t normally be able to host.  

Again: $7,500 = completed film | All additional money goes towards premieres. 
 

The film's narrative focuses on John Peter (JP) beginning at the 2019 Maah Daah Hey 100 and follows parts of JP's life over the next six years from the unraveling of his mental health in 2020 and diagnosis with Bipolar Disorder to his slow navigation of life as he tries to sort his identity with this new diagnosis.  Ultimately the mountain bike provides JP with a way to process everything and he finds himself on the way back to the 2023 Maah Daah Hey 100.  

That summer, just a month before the race, JP was involved in a near catastrophic mountain bike accident and suffered a brain injury, and it felt like he had to start over again completely.  Through his tenacity, JP returns in 2025 to the start line with close friend Derek Wallace and MDH 100 record holder Kelly Magelky racing the course with him.   
 

But Back to the Start is more than just a film—it’s an opportunity to create something much bigger. We’ll be taking the film on a premiere tour, working with local cycling communities and mental health professionals to host impactful screenings with Q+As afterward. These events are designed to be a low-barrier way to start important conversations about mental health and connect cyclists in need with real support.

I’ve seen firsthand the power of gathering as a community. At premieres over the past 12 months, as we focused on stories of friendship and community, people shared their stories, made real connections, and walked away feeling less alone. My team is excited to bring that same energy to Back to the Start.
 

Building community has always been the center of JP's work as a teacher and coach.  Community provides support that one can't experience when alone.  In many situations, it is becoming easier to discuss mental health, but the difference between discussion and action in someone's life can seem like a great chasm to cross.  Telling stories can help close that gap and it can also help one realize the need for help.  Moreover, sharing those stories within a community of people can change the game when needing support through a difficult situation.  Back to the Start as a film and its community events looks to bridge those gaps.   Here is a more in depth video where more details are flushed out in the project.  (https://youtu.be/nJlQj3ouPh0

The full team that brought you the first two films in the award winning MDH series will be a part of this full production once again, so although JP will be racing, his team will be running the show behind the scenes to support this project.  This team has proven they can execute a big production AND they have proven they can execute coordination and hosting of premiere events over the past two years in communities throughout the United States.  
 

This is probably the most awkward question: what happens if you can’t race again.  

First, hopefully that doesn’t happen. But if it does, there’s still a powerful story to tell — and we’ll tell it. This is a fair question and a necessary one…since we had a problem two years ago when we did this. 

The honest answer is that we will pivot and tell another story, just like we did two years ago.  There is a constant list of stories to tell in this realm and on back-up.  Hopefully we don’t need to go to it in this instance but if we do, there is a plan.  And any money we raise, no matter what, will be put into telling stories.  

Please help us spread the word about this amazing project.  Literally the more money we raise, the more people we can help engage in this topic and potentially get help.  If you have friends or family you believe would support this kind of work, please forward the information to them as well.  Community isn't built in silence, it is built when we are willing to reach out to those around us.  Even if you don't share the project, remind those around you that they are loved.