The annual Black Dog Ride to the Red Centre to raise awareness of mental health issues has been cancelled for the second year in a row due to the current Covid lockdowns around Australia.
However, state rides are being organised in its place.
The Black Dog Ride Australia (BDRA) says each state is now developing an alternate ride, but participants will be given the option of transferring their registration money to next year or a refund.
Most state rides will include the first 2/3 days of the original itinerary with additional alternative routes and days added.
In some cases the ride may run almost as originally planned, however now without the inclusion of celebratory functions.
All ride participants will be offered the option of:
- An “interrupted” Red Centre Ride 2021, plus a partial refund of $80 per ticket to offset the fact that there will be no longer be any ‘Celebration’ Events;
- Transfer of their registration to a planned Red Centre Ride 2022; or
- A full refund (less ticketing fee). Refunds can be requested via office@blackdogride.org.au by 22 July 2021. Celebration Tickets will be refunded automatically.
For those who choose to participate in the “interrupted” Red Centre Ride, the full ride kit consisting of Commemorative patches, pins, stickers and t-shirt will still be distributed at the start of the ride, when registering.
BDR will also produce a special set of “Interrupted” merchandise to reward those who stuck it out and rode anyway. Those kits will be posted after the ride.
State coordinators will be in touch with participants via Facebook or email with details of the state “interrupted” Red Centre Ride.
Prior to the ride, the state coordinators and their teams will review and check identity and address details.
Attendees from ‘Red Zones’ or lockdown locations will be unable to attend. All relevant COVID 19 protocols will be followed at all times.
BDRA raises awareness and funds for mental health issues.
West Australian automotive marketer Lawson Dixon took over in February as general manager of the Perth-based organisation.
BDRA was started by Steve Andrews after his solo ride around Australia in 2009. 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”.