A MAN AND HIS DOG: RIDERS AGAINST TEEN SUICIDE STOPS IN MACKENZIE
Source: Stuff (Extract)
Posted: April 25, 2023
Halfway through a six-week tour of the South Island, Gary Anderson and his dog Kairo have been overwhelmed by the support they have received on their fundraising ride.
Anderson has been riding his Yamaha XJR 1300 with a sidecar for his furry friend to sit in, from the East Coast down to Stewart Island, then back up to Lake Takapō/Tekapo and Wānaka, before heading to Picton.
He is a member of Taranaki Riders Against Teen Suicide (RATS), a non-profit group working to support people through difficult times. The ride aims to raise money for the organisation, as well as start a conversation about mental health.
Anderson said without Kairo, many people would see the bike and badges and were less likely to engage, but people loved the dog in his sidecar and would often stop to chat.
“It’s quite overwhelming when you get strangers on the street, people are in tears with us,” Anderson said.
Anderson had cried in rest areas with people he did not know, who had shared their stories with him.
“On the trip it can be draining, these people opening up, but that’s what it is all about.’’
They stopped in the Mackenzie on Saturday, meeting Jesse McCormick of Suicide Awareness/Prevention New Zealand, at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Takapō/Tekapo.
Anderson had been doing the ride with fellow Taranaki RATS member Marcus Pemberton. The group’s president Nigel Scott joined the pair at Takapō/Tekapo for the next part of the ride.
“We’re starting our fourth week now and are in Wānaka at the moment,’’ Anderson said on Monday.
He said a common theme on the trip had been a lack of funding for suicide prevention and mental health.
He also hoped to start conversations in communities left behind after suicide.
“The more a community is open, it is more likely someone who is at risk will come forward and not be ashamed.’’
He said the group helped out where it could, for example visiting primary schools to talk about bullying.
“If a family contacts us about bullying, we meet with them.’’
Anderson said he and Kairo had travelled 37,000km together, and his 13-year-old rescue border collie had taken it all in his stride.
“He’s a natural – he loves it.
“We have two to three hours of travel in a day, so he can rest up as well.’’
WHERE TO GET HELP
- 1737, Need to talk?Free call or text 1737 to talk to a trained counsellor.
- Anxiety New Zealand0800 ANXIETY (0800 269 4389)
- org.nz0800 111 757 or text 4202
- Lifeline0800 543 354
- Mental Health Foundation09 623 4812, click here to access its free resource and information service.
- Rural Support Trust0800 787 254
- Samaritans0800 726 666
- Suicide Crisis Helpline0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
- Yellow Brick Road0800 732 825
- co.nzWeb chat, email chat or free text 5626
- What’s Up0800 942 8787 (for 5 to 18-year-olds). Phone counselling available Monday-Friday, noon-11pm and weekends, 3pm-11pm. Online chat is available 3pm-10pm daily.
- Youthline0800 376 633, free text 234, email talk@youthline.co.nz, or find online chat and other support options here.
- If it is an emergency, click hereto find the number for your local crisis assessment team.
- In a life-threatening situation, call 111.
