Geelong gears up for iconic 2024 Black Dog ride to spark conversation on mental health

Malcolm Grahame has struggled with mental health after a difficult childhood. Now, he wants to help others.

14-03-2024 Malcolm Grahame preparing his motorbike for the Black Dog Ride on the weekend. Picture: Brad Fleet

The Geelong community is being encouraged to get behind the local arm of the iconic 2024 Black Dog Ride by registering to ride to or participating in local fundraising.

The motorcycle ride aims to start a national conversation about depression and suicide prevention.

Funds raised will help contribute to the Black Dog Ride Australia Community Grants program, which is focused on supporting initiatives that help people who suffer from mental illness, help prevent suicide, and raise awareness of both mental health and suicide prevention.

Belmont mental health advocate Malcolm Grahame plans on taking part in the fundraiser this weekend to offer support for those who have gone through dark times.

Mr Grahame said he has struggled with his mental health after a difficult childhood and suffered from severe depression.

He said he believed it was necessary for men to be open about their mental health and was taking part in the Black Dog Ride as he wanted to reach out to others.

Mr Grahame said he lived on the street for most of his life and wanted to throw himself away and not talk to anyone.

“Slowly but surely in the last couple of years, I have seen the light at the end of the tunnel for myself and reached out and found out about life,” Mr Grahame said.

“Men should not be ashamed of their mental health, you should try and reach out to people with previous experiences with mental health.

“If they want to talk to me, or they are willing to have a chat and a coffee or whatever, I’m willing to talk to them and steer them in the right direction.

“I just want to give to people that are struggling,” he said.

This year’s Geelong ride, on Sunday, will leave from the BP Truckstop at 455 Geelong Ring Rd, Corio, and take participants on a journey across the region, before ending with an afternoon of chats and camaraderie at Port Campbell Surf Lifesaving Club.

Local co-ordinator, David Doak, said joining the Black Dog Ride’s One Dayer was an enjoyable and meaningful way to help the organisation achieve its mission of starting conversations about depression and suicide prevention.

“More than 3000 lives are lost to suicide in Australia every year, and one in five Aussies will be affected by mental illness every year, with three million living with depression or anxiety,” Mr Doak said.

The event will begin at 8.30am and is expected to conclude at 3pm.

Online ticket sales for this event will close at 8am Sunday, just before the event begins.

Lifeline: 13 11 14

Originally published as Geelong gears up for iconic 2024 Black Dog ride to spark conversation on mental health