2020 with be the eighth year the South Coast NSW Black Dog Ride has been staged, with the iconic annual one day ride aiming to start a national conversation about depression and suicide prevention.
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This year's event on Sunday, March 15, will again start at the Shoalhaven City Council administration car park in Nowra.
South Coast ride co-ordinator Paul Gaffney is again looking for a big turn out of riders.
"The event is open to anyone and any sort of bike," he said.
"And after the sort of devastation the South Coast has experienced with the bushfires mental health is so important."
One in five Australians experience a mental health condition each year - 3 million Australians are living with depression or anxiety - eight Australians take their lives each day. That's more than 3000 lives lost to suicide each year.
The South Coast one day ride from Nowra to Batemans Bay raises awareness of depression and suicide prevention and will again support headspace Nowra.
Mr Gaffney's hoping for better weather, after rain has curtailed the past couple of local rides.
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"We had more than 100 riders turn up for the event last year but unfortunately the heavens opened again and it was extremely wet," he said.
"Only about 60-70 of us made it all the way to Batemans Bay. But we made it. We even had a dog on a trike.
"I'm not even looking at the forecast," he joked.
As well as raising funds for a local organisation Mr Gaffney said the ride also builds a community culture of awareness, inclusion and acceptance.
"As the website says - breaking down the barrier of silence encourages our friends, family and colleagues to seek help, because mental illness is just that, an illness. Mental illness can be managed to lead a meaningful, fulfilling life."
This year there will be 40 rides around Australia on the same day.
It's still not too late to join the Nowra ride, you can register at blackdogride.com.au or phone Paul Gaffney on 0403 515996 or email southcoast@blackdogride.com.au or you can register on the day.
Cost if $30 per rider and $15 for a pillion passenger.
"One of the best things about our ride is that money raised locally comes back to the local area and is utilised by headspace," he said.
Check in for the South Coast ride is at the Shoalhaven City Council administration car park in Nowra from 9.30am, with the ride departing at 10.30am.
Lions Nowra will have breakfast for sale and coffee will be available.
The ride is expected to arrive at The Marina at Batemans Bay around noon, where Lions Batemans Bay will have food available for lunch.
"Even if you don't ride a bike come down and support the event and support Lions Nowra," Mr Gaffney said.