Wheels for Reason ride to set off across WA from Mt Barker to start a conversation about mental health

A Mt Barker man who nearly lost his life to depression will tackle a 2500km journey across southern WA with his family to raise funds for mental health and encourage other people to speak up if they are struggling. Paul Anning and Josh Toovey will set off on former Australia Post motorcycles from Mt Barker on September 10 to complete a two-week Wheels for Reason ride for Vision Australia and Lifeline WA. The pair — with a support crew of about 10 friends and family — will visit Denmark, Manjimup, Busselton, Australind, Bridgetown, Kojonup, Katanning, Kulin, Kondinin, Merridin, Southern Cross, Kalgoorlie, Esperance, Jerramungup and Albany. Mr Anning, 33, said he wanted to help others after he nearly lost his life to depression in 2018 after battling silently for years. “After admitting to myself I needed help, I started to open up about my struggles with family and friends,” he said. “This led to me walking up to 10km a day. “While on my walks I decided that If I could help encourage one person to get help and talk instead of going down the dark path I did it, it would be worth me setting out on my first charity walk.” Mr Anning started Walk for Reason in 2019 and raised nearly $7000 for type 1 diabetes and the Black Dog Ride by walking between Albany and Mt Barker. He did it again the next year, raising $21,700 for Beyond Blue and the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Mr Anning said it was a workmate who reached out to him and changed the course of his life and he hoped to do the same for people he met on his ride. “We are trying to spread the message about mental health and the struggles that people have and show that you are not alone, that everyone struggles from time to time,” he said. “I had a work colleague that I didn’t really talk to much and she just reached out and said ‘you are a good person’. “She could see I was struggling and that really helped me hearing that from someone I never really talked to. “That’s why I thought if we can do what we are doing, hopefully we can encourage one person.” Mr Anning said there were still barriers to people speaking up and asking for help. “Our message is if you are struggling, see someone, because it only takes one conversation with someone to change your whole perspective on your day or life and that’s sometimes all you need to get through the day,” he said. Wheels for Reason has raised nearly $20,000 through community events. On Saturday at the Plantagenet Hotel, volunteers will lose mullets, beards and dreadlocks in a head shave auction fundraiser. Mr Anning is inviting the public to the Hilton Garden Inn Albany carpark on September 24 to join the riders on the final 50km leg of their journey, a motorbike ride along Albany Highway to Mt Barker for a celebration. Riders will meet at 10am to ride out at 11am. To donate here.