Scavenger hunt for mental health help

A NEW bike-based fundraising event for mental health support and suicide prevention is scheduled to take place in Bendigo in late July.

Frigid B*tch is being organised by Bendigo Cycles owner and cycling identity Jo Lythgo and will benefit the Let’s Chat Park in Mitchell Street.

It’s basically a scavenger hunt on wheels, with up to 12 points to be found throughout several suburbs and the CBD.

Ms Lythgo said she was inspired to organise the event after seeing a television interview with Wayne Holdsworth, whose 17-year-old son Mac took his own life in October last year because of a sexual extortion incident.

The title comes from a similarly-named activity in the United States. “It’s meant to be confronting because so is suicide and mental health,” Ms Lythgo said of ‘Frigid B*t*h’.

But despite the name – and its catalyst – the event is meant to be a fun day. Dressing up in costume is not mandatory but will be welcome.

There will be no prizes and it is not a competition, but there will be an after-party when the hunt concludes.

It will take place regardless of weather conditions.

Starting at 10am from the One Tree Hill Hotel in Spring Gully, individuals or teams of up to five people will have up to 3pm to find as many of the 12 points as possible and return to the finishing point, which will not be revealed until the day.

And Ms Lythgo said the targets for scavengers would not be the normal tourism hotspots. “They’re going to be places you probably would never have thought of,” she said.

Let’s Chat began in 2019 with an aim of helping people with their mental health. Let’s Chat Park is based at 126 Mitchell Street and offers recreation facilities, community meals and a mental health chill room.

Registrations can be made at the Bendigo Cycles website, bendigocycles.com.au, or through Ms Lythgo’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

The Instagram profile is jo.rides.andlovesadventures