The Hawaiian Ride for Youth is held annually in March across 4.5 days with riders covering over 700kms on their way from Albany to Perth to raise funds and awareness for Youth Focus. While cycling through towns in WA’s South West, Great Southern and Wheatbelt the riders visit high schools to engage with students on issues of youth suicide, depression, anxiety and self-harm.
The purpose of the Hawaiian Ride for Youth is to raise funds to support Youth Focus’ youth mental health services.
The vision of the Hawaiian Ride for Youth is to remove the stigma associated with mental health.
You can view the Strategic Plan on a Page here.
25 March 2019
30 March 2019
131kms
23 March 2021
131kms
24 March 2021
152kms
25 March 2021
26 March 2021
157kms
23 March 2021
123kms
24 March 2021
102kms
25 March 2021
140kms
23 March 2021
134kms
24 March 2021
110kms
25 March 2021
The Hawaiian Ride for Youth began in 2003 when a small group of recreational cyclists decided to combine their resources and raise funds for Youth Focus to assist in the prevention of youth suicide, depression, anxiety and self-harm.
Knowing that each and every teenage suicide affects hundreds of people; families, friends and neighbours, the riders felt this issue was a concern the whole community needed to address.
Incredibly, from humble beginnings in 2003 the event has raised more than $26,000,000 to support Youth Focus in assisting young Western Australians in need.
The Hawaiian Ride for Youth is Youth Focus’ largest fundraising event. Since its inception in 2003 the Ride has raised over $19 million for Youth Focus (see table below). In 2009 the Ride won the Special Events’ category of the Fundraising Institute of Australia’s (FIA) National Awards for Excellence in Fundraising and in 2012 and 2015 the Ride won the Best Charity Event at the Australian Event Awards.
| Year | Number of Riders | Fundraising Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 24 | $150,000 |
| 2004 | 29 | $309,000 |
| 2005 | 38 | $350,000 |
| 2006 | 40 | $515,000 |
| 2007 | 40 | $560,000 |
| 2008 | 40 | $665,000 |
| 2009 | 36 | $458,000 |
| 2010 | 44 | $748,000 |
| 2011 | 50 | $941,000 |
| 2012 | 93 | $2,016,708 |
| 2013 | 79 | $1,631,889 |
| 2014 | 109 | $1,947,780 |
| 2015 | 138 | $2,427,698 |
| 2016 | 142 | $2,356,127 |
| 2017 | 173 | $2,526,986 |
| 2018 | 169 | $2,353,559 |
| 2019 | 171 | $2,262,926 |
| 2020 | 161 | $1,919,244 |
| 2021 | 136 | $1,871,539 |
| TOTAL FUNDRAISING | $26,032,118 |
The awareness raised for Youth Focus as a result of the Hawaiian Ride for Youth is equally as important as the funds raised. The riders not only create awareness about Youth Focus through their individual fundraising campaigns but also participate in wind-training sessions (cycling on a stationary bike) at local shopping centres (including the Herdsman and Hawaiian retail outlets) during the lead up to the Ride.