2010 Black Dog Ride for Lamp

It was a ride to remember! Sunday 18th April 2010

The ride started in Bridgetown WA and finished in Busselton, all on the same day.

It was a sunny day in the South West as over 250 bikers joined WA Mental Health Minister Dr. Graham Jacobs and his wife Catherine, in the inaugural Black Dog Ride for Lamp, Sunday 18th April 2010.

Though an ex - moto racer Dr. Jacobs had not ridden a bike for over 30 years and he impressed all involved by not only riding a bike he had never ridden before, but also riding down for the event in the dark with his wife, Catherine on the back. The Minister's new ride, a BMW Motorcycle, was loaned to him especially for the trip by the team at Auto Classic BMW.

In an address, the Minister commented on how much he and his wife Catherine had enjoyed being a part of the ride, and discussed measures that the Government is taking to tackle Mental Health issues in WA.

The ride started in Bridgetown with breakfast cooked by the Bridgetown Lions, then onto Nannup for morning tea provided by the Nannup Cricket Club. The ride concluded in Busselton with a sausage sizzle hosted by Busselton Lions, and a day of festivities at the Family Fun Day. In total the ride raised around $10, 000 in aid of Lamp Inc. This small organisation in the South West of Western Australia helps people living in the community with severe and persistent Mental Health Disorders, their families, and carers.

The ride is to become an annual event, with next year's Ride for Lamp scheduled for 17th April 2011. Steve's dream is for The Ride for LAMP to become the biggest charity ride in country WA. Take a look some photos and video of the Ride for LAMP posted on ABC South West WA.

And have a look at the LAMP web site: www.lampinc.org.au Lamp is an excellent local Mental Health facility servicing our South West community. Like most not for profit support organisations it struggles to find sufficient funds to maintain the level of service that is so desperately needed. Join us next year and make the Lamp ride the biggest Charity Ride in Regional WA.