I have for a number of years tried to find something outside my own personal busy life to become passionate about while making a positive contribution to the community. I had no real preconception about what it would be.

"The ride" was something which kept entering my life - other people I knew had done it and it came up in social converstaion regularly but I had never riden in a group before or gone downhill on a bike at a speed greater than 25kph because both of these things quite honestly presented a personal fear to me.

Having a teenager I always thought I would like to be more involved with this age group.

So why become involved with Youth Focus?

It wasn't until I did my first public collection that even I completely understood this. Standing on a busy street in bike riding lycra shaking a tin and spuiking the virutes of our charity 4 separate people donated and shared their personal grief at the loss of someone from suicide (in the first 40 minutes). Then one mystery lady gave me $50 touched my arm and then rushed off. I then knew "The ride" was for me.