By Mikayla van Loon
It’s 1500 kilometres over five days but for those taking part in the Bridge Builders Postie Bike Ride, it’s much more than just a scenic drive through the countryside.
What started in 2016 with a handful of people riding up to Sydney and back to raise funds for the Lilydale based youth organisation, has grown into the largest fundraising event for the charity.
Executive officer Beck Mitchell said this year 26 riders will take part in the tour of Victoria, travelling across the Great Ocean Road, up through the Grampians, into Echuca and back down through Bright.
“The idea was about visiting the regional towns, spreading awareness about young people and our charity and what we’re doing to help and really supporting some of the local or regional areas that we were driving through,” she said.
“We’re creating awareness about all kinds of topics that young people face, whether that’s suicide prevention or self harm or addictions or whatever challenges that young people are facing, we’re able to get the word out.
“We’ve found something quite unique. It’s a lot of fun. It’s really engaging but at the end of the day, it’s helping our organisation help more young people.”
In 2019, the ride of 16 people raised about $40,000. This year with an extra 10 riders the organisation has already raised $115,000 of its $150,000 target.
“The ability to generate significant funds to help the charity help more kids is exceptional as that rider group really starts to network,” Beck said.
People will be coming from Chelsea and the other side of the city, as well as from local businesses to take part in the Postie Bike Ride that takes off from Lilydale on 24 March.
“They come from various different areas and different industries but at the end of the day they’re all excited about the idea of supporting the charity and the kids.
“A couple of the riders are young people themselves. So we’ve got three riders that are from our young adult cohort that all have their bike licence and are participating.”
Beck said over the last two years engagement with young people has been a challenge and even more so, corporate donations and fundraising has been low.
“We’re non government funded. Everything we do and our survival over the last 20 years that we’ve existed, all has come down to corporate and community support. So it’s events like the Postie Bike Ride that mean we can continue helping these young people,” she said.
“If it wasn’t for the riders committing to getting on a bike and riding some crazy kilometres and raising a lot of money for us, it would mean that we wouldn’t be able to give those services and programs and opportunities to young people.”
As someone who was supported by Bridge Builders herself, Beck said the organisation and the people changed her life.
“I’m one of those people that is incredibly thankful that there are people out there in the community that are happy to get behind an event like this, that raises funds and awareness for a charity that changed my life.
“We work with hundreds if not thousands of young people every year and we wouldn’t be able to do that without the funding and the support from the community.”
Beck also said none of it would be possible without the 20 volunteers and support crew who have been working towards this event for over a year.
“They’re all volunteers. These are people just out in the community that just put so much heart and soul into this event and into other things we do.”
To donate, go to https://www.mycause.com.au/events/mykidspostiebikeride
