Ride4Life – In their own words
Louise
Our bike Ruby caught everyone’s eye, being so unique and different. We knew people would just want to stop and ask questions.
When we shared what we were riding for, it instantly broke walls down. Everyone had a story they wanted to share – whether it was them personally, a best mate, family member.
We would stop every time and talk – and even if we were behind schedule. We’d say ‘connections over kilometres.’
There was so much loneliness across the country. Everyone just wants connection. When we gave these people time to share, it just made such a difference to them. And for us as well, we just felt so honoured that they could be vulnerable with us.
It was so powerful. We were making a difference by starting those conversations.
One thing I realised at the end, was I can actually keep doing that. I’ve finished the ride, but I can still stop and have those conversations.
The impact of what we were doing hit home the night we stopped in Kimba. The local Lions Club organised a dinner and an older gentleman got up and shared his story.
He was a farmer and opened up about the day he was going to commit suicide, until five mates turned up with a sack of grain for him. That moment, when his mates were there for him, was what stopped him.
He told us, “You girls are saving lives. Knowing what you were doing gave me a reason to get out of bed this morning.”
Rach
“This ride felt like pressing ‘shuffle’ on life and suddenly discovering all the tracks
you forgot you loved. Somewhere between the sore legs, the terrible tan lines, and the
ridiculous quad bike conversations. I walked away with a full heart, a clearer head, and a
reminder that humans are built for adventure, but most importantly, for each other.
It showed me that connection is our superpower. We’d roll into towns dusty, sweaty,
looking like a travelling circus – and people still welcomed us like old mates.
Conversations just… happened. Real ones. Funny ones. Unexpected ones. And every time, you could feel the energy shift.
It made me realise mental fitness isn’t about being tough, it’s about being connected. A chat, a laugh, a shared story; they’re basically emotional electrolytes. Without them, you’re running on empty.
One morning, after a long, windy stretch (the kind where you question all your life
choices), a gentleman turned around on the road and stopped up beside us. He said he’d
been googling our ride and following our journey and finally worked up the courage to come say hi.
He proceeded to share his story, his hard-earned money and time with us – giving us so much encouragement and hope for the rest of the day.
Since then, he has started up a men’s group in his local area to and build connection with old and new friends.
So awesome!”
Sonia
It was an amazing opportunity to connect with people across the whole of this fantastic country and hear their stories, the hidden stories – those of pain and healing.
It was encouraging everyone from school children to politicians to start thinking about the important people in our lives and to reach out and keep our connections alive and healthy – to say what we are feeling and to be vulnerable with one another.
I was overwhelmed by the trust people showed so quickly in us to share their hearts because we had stood up (or pedalled, a lot!) for something.
Connection, conversation and community are just so pivotal to being mentally fit. We have the power to change another person's life by just being present and taking the time to listen. To avoid the ‘How are you?’, without taking the time to really listen for the answer.
In Kimba, an older man from a farming background, got up and shared his story, how he had decided to take his own life before some mates stepped in and stepped up for him.
He still had battles daily with his mental health but he was determined to share with others to encourage them and he told us that our journey, our doing something tough for others, would keep him fighting each day.
That was a moment!”
Anna
“It is hard to sum up the myriad of experiences we went through over our 6 week ride. They left an indelible mark on me. One of deep reflection, sadness, hope, overwhelm and an appreciation for the simple things in life we need as humans.
Connection. It makes all the difference. And for those who don’t have it, life can feel unbearably dark, leaving them questioning their own worth and purpose. We can be the person that chooses to connect, love and be the change in others’ lives.”
Connection is the heartbeat of humanity. It is what makes us feel alive, and want to stay alive.
“We were walking the bike through the streets of Wagga Wagga when a man passed by. He paused briefly, surprise flickering on his face, before quickly continuing on. For nearly a minute I tried to ignore the feeling that I needed to speak to him, but eventually I decided to sprint back and find him.
As I turned the corner, there he was about to get into his car. What began as a light conversation about our crazy bike soon turned into both of us crying as he shared that his wife had taken her life several years earlier and he had finally just booked in counselling to begin processing the grief.
We were riding for him, his wife and his children.”
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