Current Covid lockdowns have thrown the annual Black Dog Ride into jeopardy.
(UPDATE: The event has now been cancelled, but state rides will take its place. Click here for details.)
Black Dog Ride Australia (BDRA) recently met with all state ride coordinators to discuss the situation, but agreed it was too early to make the call to cancel plans the Red Centre Ride 2021.
They will convene again next Tuesday (13 July 2021) for a final decision which will be relayed to all participants no later that noon the following day to allow time to change or cancel accommodation bookings if required.
“The health of our BDR participants is of the utmost importance, and to this end, each state coordinator is working with their teams to put in place a workable plan B, just in case the worst happens and we face state border closures,” a BDR statement says.
If the event is cancelled, BDR assures participants there will be “a range of suitable refund options” for ride registration fees.
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”.