RIDERS from Boyup Brook joined the Black Dog Ride throughout regional Australia, raising awareness of depression and suicide prevention, recently.
The ride arrived in Alice Springs for a national meet up on August 23.
K Riders from Boyup Brook, Philippe Kalten rieder, Chin Yun, Peter Bradford and Alan Lamb joined 120 or so motorbike riders as they travelled from Busselton through Boyup Brook.
Their destination for Saturday August 17 was Esperance, where the ride for the Boyup Brook K Riders ended while the rest headed for Alice Springs. "The K-riders of Boyup Brook decided to join the Black Dog ride and fundraising activities of the day," Mr Kaltenrieder said.
"Our participation took us to Esperance via Kojonup for morning tea prepared and served by the Lions Club."
The next stop was Jerramungup where good wholesome, healthy and plentiful lunch was waiting for the riders, again prepared and served by Lions volunteers.
The locals on the run to Esperance enjoyed the freedom of the open road, shared the unique camaraderie between bikers and the feeling of being part of something which will make a difference.
"After having spent the evening in Esperance and breakfasted Sunday morning in a French patisserie, we rode back to Boyup Brook, the place we call home," Mr Kaltenrieder said.
"It was an eye-opening two days spent with like-minded people with the common goal of fostering a culture of mental health awareness around the country."
Since 2010, the Black Dog Ride to the Red Centre has raised more than $500,000 for mental health services and started the conversation on depression awareness in every corner of the country.
