THOUSANDS of Black Dog Riders will hit the highways to raise vital funds for Lifeline and raise awareness of depression and suicide prevention on Sunday 23 March.
The Black Dog Ride 1 Dayer is a nationwide event. Last year saw nearly 5000 riders participate, raising over $200,000 for Lifeline.
Motorcycle enthusiasts will depart from 30 locations across Australia. The Port Macquarie leg will start at 9am from the Marina Carpark, Park Street, Port Macquarie.
The ride – led by Grinspoon frontman Phil Jamieson – will be going to Laurieton, then have a 20-minute stop at Kew, then onto Wauchope and another 20-minute stop at Beechwood and back into Port Macquarie for lunch at Panthers Sports Club on Boundary Road. All motorbikes and cars are welcome.
“The Black Dog Ride 1 Dayer is a great way for the community to get involved in a conversation around suicide and depression. By talking about these issues together, we can make a difference,” Black Dog Ride founder Steve Andrews said.
“Black Dog Ride was thrilled to hear that funds raised by the 2013 event assisted Lifeline to extend its online Crisis Support Chat service by four hours. This has allowed them to reach an additional 2000, mostly young and rural based Australians, in need of help every month.”
Suicide continues to be a significant issue in this country. It is estimated that there is a suicide attempt every 10 minutes in Australia, and one in four Australians will experience a mental illness in any given year.
“Suicide is our country’s leading cause of death for people aged between 15 and 44. While the majority of Lifeline help seekers are women, 80 per cent of all suicides in Australia are by men,” Lifeline Mid Coast CEO Catherine Vaara said.
“The Black Dog Ride 1 Dayer event has an important role in building awareness of this issue and encouraging Australians, particularly men, to seek help early.”
More than 5000 people are expected to participate in 2014, so riders are encouraged to register early. To join the ride in Port Macquarie, please visit http://www.blackdogride.com.au/view/2014-1dayer
