1 Dayer 2016
It's A Wrap!
Thousands of riders around the nation saddled up for suicide prevention!
The 2010 Black Dog Ride for LAMP set the wheels in motion for what has become an iconic annual nationwide suicide prevention project involving thousands of Black Dog Riders, hundreds of community organisations, local clubs, small businesses and individuals Australia wide, all uniting for suicide prevention on one single day.
In 2016, the annual Black Dog Ride 1 Dayer took place in 34 locations in every state and territory. Each ride region was coordinated by a volunteer with even more volunteers assisting them. These community heroes spent months engaging their local community and ultimately brought together thousands of Black Dog Riders plus hundreds of volunteers on one single day nationwide, amplifying the Black Dog Ride message of depression and suicide prevention across Australia!
RIDE COORDINATORS
All the 34 legs of the 1 Dayer were coordinated by inspirational volunteers who poured their passion for the cause into countless hours preparing each ride leg. It is truly a labour of love and Black Dog Ride can't thank these wonderful volunteers and grassroots mental health advocates enough. These Ride Coordinators are:
ACT: Steve Derham (Canberra)
NSW: Rose Hancock (Bathurst); Bill Rodgers (Byron Bay) Daz and Julie Jewell (Central Coast); Anny Seaton (Condobolin); Steve Gower (Dubbo); David Peach (Penrith); Todd Taylor (Port Macquarie); Paul Gaffney (South Coast); Graeme Falconer (Wagga Wagga)
NT: Jon Benham (Darwin)
QLD: Jol and Shanelle Clark (Bundaberg & Fraser Coast); Vanessa and Phil Louden and Derek Tottle (Cairns); Kylie Sage (Gold Coast); Charles Linsley (Mackay); Michael Young (Sunshine Coast); Chris Dow(Townsville)
SA: Steve Dixon (Kangaroo Island); Merv and Julie Storton (Nuriootpa); John Coulls (Whyalla)
TAS: Betty Parssey (Campbell Town)
VIC: Shane Taylor (Bendigo); Ann-Maree Slevin (Geelong); Ray Pratt (Mildura); Peter Roach (Melbourne East); Heather Muskee and Neil Wiltshire (Penshurst); Laurie Park (Sale); Jim Redmond (Wangaratta)
WA: Joan and Dean Bradock (Avon Valley); Chris Glover (Baldivis); Rog Seeney, Chris Sainty (Denmark); Mark Evans (Bridgetown); Kathy Nikolaenko (Kalgoorlie-Esperance); Sandra McGillivray (Geraldton).
These local legends are helping Black Dog Ride turn our vision of a nation who can talk about depression and suicide prevention openly, into a reality. Our deepest thanks to them all for giving so much of themselves to the 1 Dayer.
RIDE PHOTOS
Have you got any snapshots from your ride? Please email Fi as they're being uploaded in albums HERE so everyone in the BDR community can enjoy them. Check out the Black Dog Ride pics on Instagram HERE and the 1 Dayer pics on Twitter HERE. Please be patient while they're uploaded onto social media, there are thousands of images being processed for your enjoyment.
RIDER PARTICIPATION
The figures are in! On 20th March, a record breaking 6,934 Black Dog Riders assembled nationwide to ride for depression and suicide prevention awareness -
ACT Canberra 173
NSW Byron Bay 59
NSW Bathurst 204
NSW Central Coast 460
NSW Condobolin 46
NSW Dubbo 169
NSW Penrith 400
NSW Pt Macquarie 341
NSW South Coast 217
NSW Wagga Wagga 112
NT Darwin 345
QLD Bundaberg 122
QLD Cairns 139
QLD Gold Coast 308
QLD Mackay 193
QLD Sunshine Coast 270
QLD Townsville 131
SA Kang. Island 70
SA Nuriootpa 238
SA Whyalla 65
TAS Campbell Town 211
VIC Bendigo 312
VIC Geelong 140
VIC Melbourne 218
VIC Mildura 250
VIC Penshurst 94
VIC Sale 141
VIC Wangaratta 306
VIC Avon Valley 192
WA Baldivis 204
WA Bridgetown 342
WA Denmark 159
WA Geraldton 122
WA Kal-Esperance 181
TOTAL RIDERS 6,934
Well done Black Dog Riders!
A special shout out to Penrith for the inaugural Black Dog Ride Flag Raising at Grey Gums; Port Mac for a whopping 300% increase in rider participation; and Darwin for the unique honour of providing Black Dog Ride's very first sponsored portaloos!
A very special thank you to Adrian who was able to participate in Black Dog Ride's 1 Dayer and was inspired by the ride to write this poem.
TRAGEDY STRIKES
Black Dog Rider Les Rutledge passed away during the Kalgoorlie-Esperance 1 Dayer. Our sincerest condolences are with Les' family and fellow riders.
The Goldfields riding community came together en masse to farewell Les, a much loved local and riding mate. Les Rutledge will always be remembered.
SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS
We would be remiss not to mention the legendary Lions Clubs whose ongoing support in feeding thousands of hungry riders is sincerely appreciated.
Hundreds of local businesses and organisations provided donations for local raffles, venues for functions and discounted food to help support the cause. Ride Coordinators have issued these wonderful people, businesses and organisations with Certificates of Appreciation.
Black Dog Ride also gratefully acknowledges the many hundreds of volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes supporting the Ride Coordinators.
PRIZE WINNERS
Early Bird Registration Raffle Prizes
As an incentive to encourage Black Dog Riders to register online for the 1 Dayer, which really helps our volunteer teams out with catering and ride management, three fantastic prizes with a combined value of $2640 were offered to those who registered for the ride early.
On Sunday 20th March, the winners were drawn by Black Dog Ride Founder Steve Andrews at the Baldivis 1 Dayer. Winners were notified on Monday 21st March.
Without further ado, the winners are -
Kath won a 9ct Gold Black Dog Ride 1 Dayer 2016 signet ring valued at $1500; Alan won a BMW Boulder Riding Jacket by valued at $740; Brett won a Suomy Motorcycle Helmet valued at $400!
Congratulations and thank you so much for helping our volunteers out by registering early!
Black Dog Ride is sincerely greatful to Clayton Gordon of Elysium Jewlellers, BMW Motorrad, Rob Ferrington of QLD Offroad Tyres and Mark Hinchcliffe of Motorbike Writer for their generous support.
BENEFICIARIES
Black Dog Ride 1 Dayer 2016 has so far raised over $236,000 for 30 Australian mental health services and programs through our 1 Dayer 2016 project. The amazing efforts of 7,000 Australian Black Dog RIders are helping these 30 mental health services fund suicide prevention initiatives across Australia.
The awareness of depression and suicide revention raised through Black Dog Ride's 1 Dayer 2016 is both incalculable and invaluable. Until Australians are comfortable talking about depression they won't feel comfortable accessing mental health services which open doors to a greater quality of life and ultimately prevent suicide. With 8 Australians dying by suicide each day, it's vital that the nation starts talking about mental health.
Thousands of Black Dog Riders dragging the black dog out into the open on one single day nationwide has undoubtably had a positive impact upon thousands of commuities and individuals across Australia.
Black Dog Ride gives a huge and heartfelt thank you to every Black Dog Rider for getting into the saddle to kick start conversations about depression
and suicide prevention.
Together, we're making a difference.
"This event is very close to my heart. I suffer with the black dog. My dad lost his battle with the black dog 3 years ago. He loved motorbikes. You riders are AWESOME and raising awareness this means a lot to me!"
"I lost my husband to suicide 15 months ago. I cannot begin to tell you all how much this all meant to me."
"Thank you for getting the message out there."
"Was a fantastic ride and its such an amazing thing to do."
"This is awesome. Thank you to all involved. I will forever support this cause."
"Loved it! I'd really like to thank all the wonderful organisers & volunteers that made this run so smoothly. It's great to see so many donated to the ride & adopted Winstons in a show of solidarity."
"Thanks for the great day. Mum pillioned, the black dog left her utterly catatonic for a year, improving now though. Thanks to all that attended and supported, just seeing that so many people give a sh!t makes a difference. She's livelier this arvo than in ages. Cannot thank you all enough."
"Thanks to each one of you from someone paralysed by the black dog...You are making a difference."
"Great ride, great route and the best organisation by the Black Dog Ride crew! Thanks heaps."
"Black Dog Ride was fantastic this year .....great cause, great company, great weather made for a great ride."
"First timers here and loved it...Sadly I lost my brother 14 yrs ago."
"You guys all do a fantastic job. I myself suffer with it too. Keep up the great job everyone."
"The black dog got me the worst a few years ago, being on this ride was the first time I had not felt the sick feeling in my stomach from the anxiety."
"From a sufferer of the black dog and anxiety for the last 20yrs I can't thank the riders enough for bringing the much needed attention to such a debilitating disease."
"Thank you...for making public aware of "the black dog" from someone who lives with someone who deals with everyday..."
"Thanks to you all, organisers, volunteers & all the other motorcyclists who turned up. I had a great day riding & came home with another day alive to remember, thanks"
"A great cause, very close to my heart so really happy to be involved in my first ride. This was probably the best organised ride I've ever been on and some great roads. Congratulations on a job well done."
"Was an amazing event and cant wait for next years... Your organisation of the event on the day was amazing and the whole day was massively enjoyed by all..."
"I would catch a taxi to support a cause like this, or walk! No pain would stop me, it's one cause I support strongly!"
"Thankyou for a magnificent effort and fantastic result. Well done everyone x"
"Loved the ride, had an absolute ball!"
"Please pass on my thanks and congratulations to the Black Dog Ride team. It was a magnificent day!"
"This was my first Black Dog Ride and I would like to thank the team for making it a great and safe ride. I enjoyed the day immensely."
"I have seen first hand the the courage, dedication and strength of the Black Dog family in the face of adversity. The message we share is bigger than all of us. Ride on, my friends!"
"Great ride Great cause and thoroughly enjoyed the event."
"I am almost completely house bound sufferer (hence why I'm not just meeting you all at the end in town) and cannot express how much I appreciate the awareness you are creating. Thank you thank you thank you."