A Ballarat man will begin a more than 300 kilometre ride in the name of suicide awareness today.
The Wayne Schwass Puka Up Ride supports the foundation’s goal in helping people manage their mental health.
The Western Hotel’s Dan Cronin arrived in Marysville on Thursday where he will begin his trek.
He says the foundation’s wellness program is particularly close to his heart.
“It’s particularly aimed at businesses, and couldn’t be any more important than right now as businesses, no matter what field they’re in, we’re feeling the ripple effect of the last few years.
And industries that haven’t felt the full effect of the pandemic are certaintly starting to feel it now.”
The wellness program gives people tools with which they can better their mental health, and every $250 raised by Dan and his cycle team means another person can be supported.
A previous study found suicide rates in Ballarat were higher than the average overall Victorian and Australian rates, with a ratio of men to women at 4 to 1.
Between 2016 to 2020 65 Ballarat men ended their lives, making it the eighth most common cause of death among men locally.
More information about Wayne Schwass’s Puka Up foundation here.
To donate to Dan Cronin scan this QR code.
