LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Black Dog Ride thanks

I have recently returned from a trip to the USA where I took part in the Black Dog Across America Ride.

I am writing to thank both the Daily Mercury and the community of the Mackay region for their support for the Black Dog Rides.

In the last six years, the ride has been raising awareness of depression and suicide prevention, and raising funds for Lifeline and Mental Health First Aid Australia. Due to its success, Mental Health First Aid USA invited the Black Dog Ride to run a ride in the USA with the intention of adopting it as part of their fund raising strategies.

MHFA USA plans to use funds raised through this event to provide mental health first aid skills to military veterans and first responders, including police, fire and ambulance officers. These groups have been identified as the most at risk in terms of depression and suicide.

I was privileged to be one of 65 Australians, including 45 riders and 20 pillion riders, to spend 21 days riding 7000 kilometres from New York to Los Angeles to promote the ride.

Along the way we attended many events organised by MHFA USA, and received a warm welcome from police, fire and ambulance squads and groups of military veteran motor cycle riders. This included some memorable occasions such as police and military veteran motor cycle escorts through New York and Los Angeles.

While there were many highlights on the trip, there was a major tragedy, widely reported in the Australian media, when two of our riders, Steve and Barbara Thomas, were involved in a freak accident on September 25 in Colorado when their motor bike was struck by a large bush turkey.

Barbara sadly died at the scene, while Steve was airlifted to hospital, where he spent four weeks in hospital, including three days in intensive care.

After much discussion amongst the riders, and with the blessing and encouragement of Barbara and Steve's families, all the riders completed the journey to Los Angeles.

I am pleased to say that Steve is now back in WA, where he remains in hospital, receiving rehabilitation for his injuries. Barbara's funeral will be held in WA on November 30, and Black Dog Riders who can will attend to represent the group.

I'd like to thank the Daily Mercury for their support with the Black Dog Ride initiative. They have consistently covered local events in Mackay, in addition to the national rides such as the Around Australia Ride which I also took part in last year.

Staff including Emily Smith, Jon Ortlieb, Lucy Martin and Troy Kippen have provided excellent and ongoing coverage of the Black Dog Ride, in addition to other initiatives including the Run for MI Life events. This coverage has consistently supported these and similar community events to engage the community and raise awareness of depression and suicide prevention, two major issues in the Mackay region.

In addition, I'd like to thank the people of the community of the Mackay region, which has also been very supportive.

In response to Emily Smith's article on the Across America Ride (DM October 17), a number of people contacted me to offer their condolences and enquire about the health of Steve Thomas since the ride. It is both comforting and reassuring to know that the ride has the support of so many people in the community.

Mental illness is just that, an illness, not a weakness, and can be treated like any other injury, and I look forward to the Black Dog Ride making an ongoing contribution to supporting initiatives to raise awareness of depression and suicide prevention in the community.

Thank you again to the Daily Mercury and the Mackay community for your support for the Black Dog Ride.

CHARLES LINSLEY

Black Dog Rider and Coordinator, Mackay 1 Day Black Dog Ride.

Glenella

Originally published as LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Black Dog Ride thanks