Local men ride 1400 km raising awareness for men’s mental health

What do you get for a man that has everything?

You might think maybe a box of chocolates or a carton of the finest XXXX Gold beer.

Or maybe, you’d organise a 1400 kilometer round trip on motorbikes that go a total of 80km an hour, to regional and rural towns advocating and fundraising for men’s mental health.

At least, that’s what one group of friends did for Gunnedah local, Ben Cartwright.

The idea was simple, the group would all come together and purchase old Honda CT110 postie motorbikes, and plan a weeklong ride where they would raise money for charity going towards mental health services.

The group consisted of eight riders, and one support driver.

For six months, they planned extensively, crafting a route that would hit both larger and smaller towns.

“It started off as a bit of a birthday present, because Ben wanted to do a boys’ trip for his birthday, and his friends were all trying to work out what they were going to get him,” Christina Cartwright, Ben’s wife, said.

“So, they got to thinking, and said can we do a charity?

“Men’s mental health is also a big thing amongst the group, they either know someone who has got it, or they’ve been through it themselves,” she said.

With members of the group coming from all over the state, it was important for them to choose a charity which reflected the industries that they were a part of.

They wanted to donate to a charity that wasn’t talked about as much as the larger ones.

With this in mind, they found the charity, Are You Bogged Mate? A charity that focusses on helping rural and regional men with mental health support.

“They kept looking at different charities, but all the big ones they get done all the time you know?” Christina said.

“All the blokes in the group are either a farmer, or miner, or in that industry and they were looking for a smaller charity that they could help out and Are You Bogged Mate? just fit so well,” she said.

Over the trip, the group travelled through more than 30 towns, with each community showing support and sharing their own stories and experiences.

It was eye opening to how needed resources, services and support are for regional and rural communities.

“They were really overwhelmed, especially halfway through the trip,” Christina said.

“They stopped in Coffs Harbour where they met a lady that donated $500 on behalf of her brother who had lived in Gunnedah but sadly passed away due to mental health issues,” she said

“She wanted to speak to them and tell them her brother’s story, and it hit home for a lot of them just how there’s not really much out here for blokes.

“So, coming home, they reflected on that and they’re like we need to keep doing this to spread the awareness, like it’s OK to feel down and you’ve always got somebody.” Christina said.

In total, the men were able to raise over $2,000 for men’s mental health, an achievement that went well over their initial funding goal.

Next year, they hope to make the trip again. This time heading to Queensland and their communities.

More are welcomed to join, with details on how to sign up to be announced.

Trent Tolley, Darren Henderson, George Ellen, Rodney Mitchell, James Carrall, Josh Isaac, Matthew Mitchell, Ben Cartwright and Jeremy Osbourne pictured during a stop at Inverell.