Bike ride educates students about addictions
Twelve recovering addicts rode 1020km to visit schools to share about the dangers of experimenting with drugs and alcohol. (Photo by Matty Lynch)
Twelve participants from The Salvation Army’s Dooralong Transformation Centre have taken a stance against drugs and alcohol on this year’s rode2recovery bike ride.
Facing wild temperatures ranging from 41 degrees right down to 2 degrees, the bike ride started in Bourke, northwest NSW, and travelled through Brewarrina, Walgett, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Dubbo, Dunedoo, Merriwa, Singleton, Broke, Wollombi, Cessnock, Laguna, The Pines and finished back at the Dooralong Transformation Centre.
Following the success of last year’s bike ride, the 12 riders and 13 support crew members visited 10 high schools to share their stories of addiction and educate students about the dangers of using drugs and alcohol.
“For a majority of our programs’ participants they experienced drug and alcohol abuse at school. School is where they begin to experiment and we want to educate the younger generation about the dangers of this,” explains Mark Gambrill, Dooralong Transformation Centre Case Worker.
“While it might start out as fun, it can lead to full-blown addictions that can have quite serious consequences.”
Both riders and support crew members shared their personal struggles including separation from family, trouble with the police and long-term health implications from using drugs, alcohol and smoking. Mr Gambrill says they received positive responses from the students present, many of whom stayed behind to chat with them.
This year, two police patrols joined the rode2recovery crew for part of the ride in support of the awareness initiative. It’s hoped that the ambulance service and fire brigade will also come on board in the future to educate students about the roles emergency services play in helping those with addictions.
After two successful years, Mr Gambrill hopes that rode2recovery will one day become a national bike ride.
To see more photos from the event, see their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Rode2Recovery
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