Steve Andrews wins Pride of Australia Award
Steve Andrews, who in 2009 launched a visionary and inspirational ride to raise awareness of depression that developed into a national movement, has won the WA Pride of Australia, Community Spirit Award.
In the year that Black Dog Ride inaugurated the Black Dog Ride National 1 Day Ride for Lifeline which brought together 2,000 participants, and mere weeks after 500 riders around the nation participated in the Black Dog Ride to the Red Centre which has raised $250,000 for the Black Dog Institute, it is with great pride that Black Dog Riders and community members learn that the quiet and humble man who founded Black Dog Ride is acknowledged for his unsung and tireless actions to raise awareness of depression and suicide prevention.
It came as a great shock to Steve when he found he was nominated for the award, but few who know Steve or Black Dog Ride would have been shocked at this well deserved nomination. Finding out, just prior to winning the Award, that in 2011 a nun had won the Award, Steve was certain he wouldn't win. Indeed, all the inspirational people who had been nominated were worthy of the Award. But just two days out from World Suicide Prevention Day it was fitting that Steve Andrews was announced the winner of the WA Pride of Australia Community Spirit Award.
Watch Steve's acceptance speech below:
Steve Andrews, a man whose singleminded determination to raise awareness of depression and suicide prevention sparked the collective conscience of a nation and has raised $500,000 for mental health support services, says "Mental health is an issue which governments can't fix, we as a community need to fix it.
As described here, Steve Andrews is now in the running for the National Pride of Australia Award and the People's Choice Award.
Thank you to the Sunday Times, PerthNow and media partner Network Ten. It would be remiss not to mention the 3000 Australians nominated for Pride of Australia Awards, inspirational community members who, in Steve Andrews words "see a need and take action."
Please send Steve your congratulations here: http://is.gd/BDRPoA
