The Drought Ride cyclists gathered at Apex Park on Saturday.
If you were out and about on Saturday you may have noticed a swarm of about 60 cyclists passing through Forbes, having cycled from Molong in the morning. The determined, altruistic men and women are part of a charity cycling group who are riding to support drought stricken rural communities. On Saturday The Drought Ride cyclists stopped at Forbes Apex Park for lunch and a rest before taking off again to Grenfell.
The initiative aims to boost morale by showing their support of rural towns by visiting and spending their own money in local businesses such as shops, cafes, pubs, motels and restaurants. In addition to this, the group has raised funds which will be donated to ‘Beat the Breakdown’, an important charity that raises awareness of mental health issues in rural communities. As of Tuesday, The Drought Ride has raised more than $78,000 for Beat the Breakdown, which was way beyond the initial plan for each cyclist to raise $1,000 for the cause.
If you or anyone you know if experiencing depression, you can contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or Lifelife on 13 11 14. You can also visit www.headspace.com.au and au.reachout.com.