On Monday 4 February, 35 cyclists and volunteers will set off on a challenging ride over six days from Ballarat to Melbourne to raise funds for mental health, loss and grief. The ride will be led by co-Founder of the Chamberlain Foundation and Senior AFL Field Umpire, ‘Razor’ Ray Chamberlain and Australian cycling legend Phil Anderson – the first non European to wear the famous Yellow Jersey in the Tour de France.
The 850km ride will start in Ballarat and travel through regional Victoria and along the Great Ocean Road with overnight stops in Halls Gap, Port Fairy, Port Campbell, Wye River, Rye with a finale back in Melbourne on Saturday 9 February.
The primary event beneficiary is GriefLine Community and Family Services, Australia’s only dedicated free loss and grief national telephone counselling service. Mental health, loss and grief are a major part of the calls that GriefLine receive.
Ray Chamberlain said: “Our goal is to raise $100,000 to support mental health services for children suffering the effects of grief or loss”.
GriefLine’sChildren and Youth Program is instrumental in helping families recover from difficult circumstances and preventing further breakdown in the relationships within the family unit.
For Ray, the bicycle ride and his commitment to GriefLine has grown over the past five years.
“In that time many people close to my brothers and I have suffered greatly with mental illness. Some have, with professional support, found their way out of the darkness and some have lost their battle with depression and sadly, their lives. All of these people have had a profound impact on both our understanding of mental health and wellness and our outlook on life in general,” he said.
In 2015, Ray, together with his brothers Peter and Brian, established a Foundation to support organisations providing services to people suffering with mental health issues and suicide.
Since its conception, the Chamberlain Foundation has donated in excess of $250,000 for suicide prevention and mental health (supporting programs identified by GriefLine, RUOK and the Chamberlain Foundation) in an attempt to further curb the instance of suicide and help support those finding themselves at such a point in their lives along with those closest to them.
To Donate or support a rider:
https://razor-ride.blackbaud-sites.com/
https://razorride-2019.everydayhero.com/au/ray
THE ROUTE
4thFebruary Depart Ballarat – Arrive Halls Gap 165kms
5thFebruary Depart Halls Gap – Arrive Port Fairy 185kms
6thFebruary Depart Port Fairy – Arrive Port Campbell 110kms
7thFebruary Depart Port Campbell – Arrive Wye River 125km
8thFebruary Depart Wye River – Arrive Rye 130km
9thFebruary Depart Rye-Arrive Melbourne 120km
The Razor Ride is sponsored by Bendigo Bank, Mercedes Benz – Berwick, O’Mara Cyles, Insurance Advisernet, AIA Vitality, Mude, Winners Sports Nutrition, Tineli, Bond Projects