Over 25 riders and several hundred supporters were at Sturt Park to mark the end of the second Ride for Quinny on Saturday morning.
The ride was in honour of Bayden Quinn a young man who sadly took his own life, and it was also an opportunity to raise funds and awareness of mental health in Broken Hill.
It’s an initiative of Nick Mann, brother-in-law of Bayden, who along with good friend Jim Hocking talked with Lifeline Broken Hill Country to Coast about raising funds for use within the Broken Hill community.
Starting out from Pots and Plants Broken Hill at 720 William Street, the ride headed out on the Tibooburra Road and back into Sturt Park after covering 100km.
At the park there were food stalls, coffee, a jumping castle and local organisations to welcome the riders back after the six-hour ride and to keep up the spirits of the hundreds of people who came out to support the event.
Marissa Pickett, Service and Supports Manager for Lifeline Broken Hill, said the ride was an outstanding success, with the fund-raising targets reached and exceeded.
“Once again, has been supported by the community like you wouldn’t believe.
“Look at the turn out here, it’s just phenomenal, it’s amazing.
“It touches everyone’s heart, a situation like this. Obviously a lot of people know the Quinn family, a lot of people loved Bayden, and that’s why they are all here today to support people who are struggling, so that it doesn’t happen to someone else.
“We have reached $20,025.00, and our aim was to reach $20,000 before we hit town.
“We were at $20,005 online and someone has just thrown a $20 note at me as we were coming into town, so there is 20 bucks in the car as well,” Ms Pickett said.
Nick Mann said he was very pleased that it was once again a hugely successful event.
“The day was perfect, we had favourable winds, I don’t think that there were any stacks, just a few punctures, which is pretty normal.
“We just ticked over the 20 grand mark, as we came into town.
“Donations will still be open for about another week,” Mr Mann said.
