Car donation boosts cause

Busselton Toyota is getting behind mental health promotion charity Black Dog Ride, donating a Toyota Prado which will be used as a support vehicle for participants throughout the WA leg of the national ride.

Busselton Toyota proprietor Laurie Saltarini handed over the keys to the vehicle this week before more than 60 WA mental health advocates departed Perth yesterday on an outback adventure to raise awareness about depression and suicide prevention.

Black Dog Ride volunteer and Busselton local Ross Scott will drive the support vehicle for the fifth year in a row.

“The more people who understand depression, the better we will be as a community,” he said.

“If we can save one life with this Black Dog Ride then I will be a very happy man.”

The ride will cover about 4600km over nine days before reaching its final destination in Darwin.

Along the way the Black Dog Riders, ranging in age from 33 to 70, will be stopping at schools and community centres at Jurien Bay, Northampton, Broome, Fitzroy Crossing and Kununurra.

Funds raised during the trip will be used to benefit grassroots community mental health projects throughout Australia.

The event has raised more than $2.5 million for mental health and suicide prevention programs nationwide, including Headspace centres, Men’s Sheds, and Lamp Inc in Busselton.