A Western Australian man made it into Geelong after cycling across the country to raise money and awareness for mental health and suicide.
Lenny Deacon arrived on his recumbent trike in Geelong on Sunday, April 6, six months after leaving his Bunbury home on November 2 as part of his You Are Not Alone bike ride.
Mr Deacon said he wanted to raise $1 million for Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation in memory of his friend Simon ‘Dippa’ Wheaton, who lost his life to suicide in 2021 at 43 years old.
“I’m just trying to make a bit of a difference and give back what’s been given to me while letting people know that it’s alright if you’re not alright,” he said.
“It wasn’t good for me to lose Dippa, and I’d already lost an uncle before that to suicide… I’ve had my own struggles as well. So, fundraising is my way of giving back.
“Stigma surrounding mental health and suicide really needs to be smashed apart. It’s that old ‘toughen up’, ‘have a cup of cement’ and ‘we just won’t talk about it’ type of attitude.
“You hear the statistics, and that’s scary enough, but since I’ve been on the road and talking to real life people in real life situations, I feel there’s way more people affected by mental illness and suicide.”
Mr Deacon has raised close to $18,000 and was next heading to Tasmania. Visit breakthroughcommunityhub.org.au/yanar-you-are-not-alone-ride-doin-it-for-dippa for more information or to donate.
Crisis support and suicide prevention help is available 24/7 through Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Jena Carr
