Five years after Steve Andrews’ solo ride around Australia to raise awareness of depression which inspired a nation, Black Dog Ride is returning to the ride that started it all, the Black Dog Ride around Australia. This epic awareness raising adventure will be a full lap of Australia, riding 14,500kms in 32 days! The Ride will commence
from Bateau Bay, Central Coast of NSW on July 26th and finish at Bondi Beach, Sydney on August 26th.

The Black Dog Ride Around Australia will be complemented by State Rides. These week long intrastate rides will intersect with the Black Dog Ride Around Australia as it passes through each state between 26th July and 26th August. 

Since Black Dog Ride began in 2009, it has evolved into a national movement of thousands of Australian motorcycle riders who have raised over $1,200,000 for mental health services, fostering mental health awareness around the country. Get involved and help to start the conversation around depression and suicide prevention today. See some alarming statistics below.

Funds raised on the ride will benefit Lifeline Australia and Mental Health First Aid Australia. For more information see the Black Dog Ride website, link below.

Yahava KoffeeWorks are going on the full tour and have custom fitted out the Yahava MotoKafe, built by a bunch of enthusiastic supporters and sponsors so it can be ridden by Yahava KoffeeWorks’ Koffee Baron with his Biker Baristas to keep all the riders’ and supporters’ caffeine levels up. BioPak have donated a specially branded BioCup for the event. 

• Suicide is the leading cause of death in Australians under the age of 45
• It is estimated that there is a suicide attempt every ten minutes in Australia
• 80% of all suicides in Australia are by men
• Men in regional locations experience much higher rates of suicide than the national average
• One in five Australians will experience mental illness every year
• Mental illness is the leading cause of disability in Australia
• Depressive disorders are the most common identifiable risk factor for suicide
• Lifeline’s Online Crisis Chat service reaches out to young and remotely located. Australians who are reluctant to seek help through traditional telephone crisis lines or face-to-face counsellors
• Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) conducts courses which teach mental health first aid strategies, to better equip the public to helping those experiencing depressive and mental disorders

Black Dog Ride’s mascot Winston

Winston is known Australia wide as the all weather mascot for Black Dog Ride! Winston is named after Sir Winston Churchill who famously diarised about the depression he suffered, calling it ‘the black dog of depression’. 

Black Dog Ride website
Lifeline website
Mental Health First Aid website