Black Dog Ride Australia (BDRA) annual 1 Dayer charity rides for mental health issues are back in 2022, as well as last year’s popular “virtual” 1 Dayers.
The 1 Dayer 2022 will be held at various locations around Australian on Sunday 20 March to kickstart a national conversation about depression and suicide prevention.
Over the past two years, Covid lockdowns have forced the cancellation of the annual Ride to the Red Centre.
So the BDRA conducted a survey to search for a new direction in 2022.
The return of 1 Dayers and the retention of the popular “virtual” 1 Dayers for those who can’t attend for health, distance or other reasons seems to be one of the results of the survey.
Registrations are now open for both events.
Participants will receive a rider’s kit including an embroidered 1 Dayer patch, a round 1 Dayer 2022 participation bike sticker and a new `Black Dog Rider’ small bike sticker.
Riders who do the “virtual” event can ride solo or with a group of friends.
BDRA has had a couple of “ruff” years due to changes in leadership and the pandemic.
BDRA was started by Steve Andrews after his solo ride around Australia in 2009 to raise awareness of depression and suicide prevention.
His shock retirement in 2017 was followed by a series of changes in leadership, board membership and administrative staff that the organisation admitted in 2019 had left them “in a state of flux”.
Over the past two years, Covid lockdowns have forced the cancellation of the annual Ride to the Red Centre.