Motorcycle riders have raised more than $352,000 for Lifeline and Mental Health First Aid in this year’s Black Dog Ride to the Red Centre.
The ride attracted 675 participants from every state and territory, with 300 riding all the way to the Red Centre.
Funds will be directed to Lifeline’s Online Crisis Support chat service and funding Mental Health First Aid Instructors across Australia.
Even before the ride set out last month, the annual Black Dog Ride had passed the $1 million mark in funds raised for mental health support services in the past four years.
What began as a solo motorbike ride around Australia by Steve Andrews has now become a national event.
Among the riders this year were depression sufferer John ‘Squire’ Skinner and his own black dog, Scrambles who became the first man and dog to ride across Australia unaided in 2008.
The Triumph-Scrambler-riding team arrived back in Brisbane safely after returning from Alice Springs the long way through South Australia’s deserts.
“Dirt, dust and thankfully no offs, everything worked well, including my head space, although I did rest up with Deli belly for a couple of days; must have been some bad road kill consumed,” John says.
John has been filming all his travels and is producing a TV documentary.
If you need urgent help or support, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
