Black Dog Ride starting in Beerwah

THE annual Sunshine Coast Black Dog Ride will take place on March 19, leaving at 9.15am from the Beerwah Sportsground and will trek a 160km round trip of the Hinterland.

Since the event’s inception in 2009, which raises money for depression and anxiety awareness, there are now 55 motorbike rides across Australia every year on the 3rd Sunday of March.

The ride will take motorbike riders from Beerwah and travel through Maleny, Conondale, Kenilworth, Yandina, Nambour, Mapleton, Montville and Landsborough.

Ride coordinator Sandra Helkin said she appreciated the local support this year’s ride was gathering.

“Some schools we ride past will be putting up displays of art work by their talented students with pictures of Motorcycles, Black Dogs named Winston and expressions of Mental Health,” she said.

“Some of the local churches and halls on the route have also shown their support using their signs to get this crucial message out.”

On riders return to the sportsground at 11.45am, there will be a lunch with vegetarian options available, as well as raffles and a guest speaker.

Registrations are open now on their website at https://events.humanitix.com/ sunshine-coast-qld-black-dog-ride-1dayer-2023 .