{"id":97854,"date":"2024-07-26T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-25T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/bendigotimes\/?p=97854"},"modified":"2024-07-25T16:46:47","modified_gmt":"2024-07-25T06:46:47","slug":"lukes-long-ride-for-lifeline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/bendigotimes\/news\/lukes-long-ride-for-lifeline\/","title":{"rendered":"Luke’s long ride for Lifeline"},"content":{"rendered":"

MENTAL health advocate Luke Baker is training hard ahead of the massive challenge of riding a bicycle from Western Australia to Bendigo in aid of Lifeline Loddon Mallee.<\/p>\n

The Pedalling For Hope ride will begin in Albany on 16 August and will cover 3249 kilometres; one kilometre for every life lost to suicide in Australia in 2022.<\/p>\n

Mr Baker plans to arrive in Bendigo on 10 September, which is World Suicide Prevention Day.<\/p>\n

A former police officer who has had his own mental health struggles, Mr Baker feels strongly about the issue.<\/p>\n

“At one point I almost took my own life, and I understand the importance of having someone to talk to because having that did save my life,” he said.<\/p>\n

“For a long time, as a male it was seen as a sign of weakness to talk about your feelings.”<\/p>\n

Mr Baker is active in the community, hosting the monthly Mr Perfect barbecues in Bendigo, and he helped out in Rochester after the floods.<\/p>\n

He saw locals “at their lowest point.”<\/p>\n

\"Ride
Each kilometre will represent a life lost to suicide in Australia in 2022. Photo: SUPPLIED<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“At the time there was a big emphasis on fixing what could be seen, and there didn’t appear to be a huge emphasis on fixing what couldn’t be seen,” he said.<\/p>\n

“I thought, what can I do to help people in regional communities take care of their mental health?”<\/p>\n

Mr Baker decided to take on a project focusing on suicide statistics, so he approached Lifeline Loddon Mallee which agreed to be the ride’s beneficiary.<\/p>\n

Averaging about 155 kilometres a day, Mr Baker will be supported along the way by family and friends.<\/p>\n

An official celebration is being organised for when he arrives at the Alexandra Fountain in Bendigo on September 10.<\/p>\n

Donations can be made through the ride’s page at mycause.com.au\/page\/326503\/pedalling-for-hope<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Several thousand dollars have already been raised, and donations can also be made directly through the Lifeline Loddon Mallee website.<\/p>\n

Visit facebook.com\/pedalling.for.hope<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

MENTAL health advocate Luke Baker is training hard ahead of the massive challenge of riding a bicycle from Western Australia to Bendigo in aid of Lifeline Loddon Mallee. The Pedalling For Hope ride will begin in Albany on 16 August and will cover 3249 kilometres; one kilometre for every life lost to suicide in Australia […]<\/p>\n

Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":225,"featured_media":97922,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-97854","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nLuke's long ride for Lifeline - Bendigo Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Luke Baker cycles 3,249 km for Lifeline! Ex-police officer tackles epic ride from WA to Bendigo to raise awareness for mental health. 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