Two Griffith residents are getting behind the 2019 Black Dog Ride around Australia, and are encouraging others to join the cause.
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Danielle Dionis and Widgelli farmer Glen Dal Broi will join the NSW leg of the ride - which is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The ride will leave Wagga for Byron Bay in August.
For Ms Dionis, the cause of suicide prevention is a personal one.
A friend of hers who moved to Griffith from Germany experienced severe bullying and harassment because of his ethnicity, and he took his own life.
"In the mid-1990s, suicide wasn't talked about, it was hidden. It was brushed under the carpet," Ms Dionis said.
She said it was only now that her generation was able to speak about mental health issues like depression and anxiety and work to prevent suicide.
"A lot of the services are out there to help now but they aren't funded by government," she said.
Funds raised by the Black Dog Ride are there to help their work in suicide prevention, such as mental health first aid course which provide people skills to help people who talk about ending their life.
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It's not the first time Ms Dionis has been involved with the Black Dog Ride, she was a support driver during the 2018 tour around the Top End.
Mr Dal Broi has bought a motorbike to join the ride for the first time and he wants to see more Griffith residents get involved.
"It's a good cause, and can have some fun along the way and meet some salt of the earth people," Mr Dal Broi said.
Mr Dal Broi is hoping to have some fellow travellers from Griffith join him and the 65 riders who are doing the full ride around Australia.
"For people who are doing it tough, there is help out there," Mr Dal Broi said.
"Suicide is not worth it."
For more information about the 2019 Black Dog Ride visit www.blackdogride.org.au.
IF YOU NEED HELP
- LifeLine: 13 11 14
- Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800
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