Ride Out of the Blue
Kiwi actress Aidee Walker is taking on the challenge of Alison Blythe's pioneering Bluff to Cape Reinga bike ride, Ride out of the Blue, and wants to raise $100,000 for the Mental Health Foundation!
Laydee Aidee, of Outrageous Fortune and Nothing Trivial fame, is putting together a team of cyclists, hopefully including some of the country’s top actors and writers, to continue the Ride Out of the Blue in 2012.
“I was so inspired by what Alison and her crew of riders achieved last year that I was determined to make sure Ride Out of the Blue happened again,” Aidee says. “It's such a fun and unique way to raise awareness and funds for something that affects so many New Zealanders.”
Ride Out of the Blue will depart Bluff on 13 October. As the riders travel north, they will be involved in a number of events along the way, many of which will be used to spread the word about beating depression and the importance of maintaining wellbeing.
Judi Clements, Mental Health Foundation chief executive, says: “We are looking forward to the 2012 event as the ride was hugely successful, not only in financial terms but also as a way to promote positive mental health messages.”
You can join in on the ride
Ride Out of the Blue (ROOTB) is open to anyone for either the entire challenge or individual legs.
Aidee has commitment from other stars to support the big ride, including Shortland Street and Almighty Johnsons' actor Michelle Langstone, Renee Lyons from Super City, award-winning playwright Pip Hall, fashion designer Tamzin Hawkins and Outrageous Fortune’s Antonia Prebble. To name a few. Find out who the core riders are. Find out who's in the support crew.
Gala Night in Auckland will also raise funds
Aidee and her team mates are passionate about humour and want the ROOTB journey to be fun as well as serious! When the rdiers make Auckland there is going to be a ROOTB Gala Night that will blow your socks off!
"The point of all of this is that exercise and comedy is the key to a life time of good mood," Aidee says.
She is organising a host of celebs and stand up comedians and performers - including silk dancers, no less - to make the Gala Night one to remember. There will be ticket sales and auctions on the night to raise more funds for the Foundation. More details on the night wil be posted as it comes to hand.
Support Ride out of the Blue in one of these ways:
- Get on yer bike and ride a leg or two with the team
- Sponsor the Ride Out of the Blue cyclists by donating via the official Fundraise Online page
- Send a word or two of encrouagement via Aidee's blog
- Donate accommodation or a top-shelf bike ($2k bikes needed). To discuss email anne "at" mentalhealth.org.nz
- Follow on Facebook
Contact the team
For more information please contact the Ride out of the Blue team by emailing rideoutoftheblue2012 "at" gmail.com
How Ride out of the Blue began
In 2011 mother and lawyer Alison Blyth, motivated by the death of her family members and her own experience of depression, led a group of courageous cyclists in the inaugural Ride Out of the Blue.
Over their 27 day journey they used nothing but pedal power and determination to travel from Bluff to Cape Reinga encouraging discussion about mental health and suicide along the way celebrating life while raising over $30,000 for the Mental Health Foundation.
Read more about Ride Out of the Blue 2011
