Stopping the tragedy

Pauline and I headed out for a couple of hours last night to a very important event. It was the launch of a bike ride which raises funds for an essential community service.

Did you know that here in Australia, approximately 580 more people commit suicide each year than are killed in car accidents? We hear a lot about the tragic loss of life on our roads, and so we should, but we don’t often hear about the tragic loss of life through people who simply decide that they no longer wish to keep living.

One organisation trying to do something to turn these horrific figures around is Youth Focus. Youth Focus is a West Australian, non-government community based organisation working with young people 12 – 18 years of age who are showing early signs of suicide, depression and deliberate self-harm and works with over 500 young people and 100 families each year.

On the 3rd of April 40 men and women will start a ride from Albany to Perth raising money to help fund the excellent work that Youth Focus does. This will be the fourth Ride for Youth and their total fundraising should top the $1 000 000 mark this year. This year alone they hope to raise $400 000 through the ride.

You can click here if you’d like to donate.

I’m going to keep up to date with training and preparations for the ride by chatting to one of the riders during my morning radio programme on 98.5 Sonshine FM. Our first chat will be at 11:10 a.m. on Monday morning Perth time. (Click here to see what time that will be for you.) You can listen by tuning to 98.5 on your FM radio if you’re in the Perth area or listen on-line through the website.

Posted by Rodney Olsen

Technorati Tags: Suicide – Cycling – Radio – Sonshine FM

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