General News
13 September, 2024
Luke raises thousands for cause
Maryborough local Luke Baker has cycled 3249 kilometres in 26 days, raising over $9300 for Lifeline Loddon Mallee.
The Pedalling for Hope fundraiser aims to raise awareness for mental health and local wellbeing services, with each kilometre marking the number of deaths from suicide in 2022 in Australia.
Mr Baker said he was very emotional when he arrived in Bendigo, completing his journey on Tuesday on World Suicide Prevention Day.
“It was a bit of an emotion dump on Tuesday when I got to Rosalind Park, I was just relieved it was done and excited to be able to achieve what we set out to achieve,” he said.
“I’m just happy knowing what we have done will help people in our community — even if this only benefits one person in the community it has been worth it.”
However it wasn’t easy getting to the finish line as the campaign ran into multiple hurdles.
Before the ride in July, Mr Baker’s bike valued at around $5000 donated by Giant Bikes Australia was stolen from a Burke Street, Maryborough property — it was later retrieved by local police in August.
Following on from that, although the bike route was originally slated to go through Albany, Western Australia all the way to Bendigo, cancelled airfares and accommodation issues made the trip impossible.
“There were times, when we had issues where I wanted to throw the towel in,” Mr Baker said.
“What kept me going was the fact that the ride wasn’t about me, it was about Lifeline Loddon Mallee and the help they give members of our local communities at their lowest points.
“We were doing this for a purpose and that purpose was to raise funds, generate conversation about mental health and to remember those people that have been lost to suicide.”
Despite the spanners in the works, Mr Baker continued the journey by riding around the 10 local government areas that Lifeline Loddon Mallee supports.
Mr Baker said he has been amazed by the support of his team and the wider community for a vital cause.
“Seeing how passionate people are about mental health and how the perception of it has changed a lot over the years is great,” he said.
“I got emotional every time we hit a certain figure and I’m just grateful for the support that people have given us.
“We have been able to raise enough to potentially train two new call takers which has an indirect impact on our communities because those people take those skills back to their everyday life.
“I would like to thank my partner for her support from the initial crazy idea that I had, my brother who came across to Western Australia and came back with me on the drive and some pretty amazing sponsors, without their assistance we wouldn’t have been able to do what we did.”
The donation page for Pedalling for Hope will remain open for the next four weeks. To make a donation visit the Pedalling for Hope Facebook page for the mycause link.