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TRAINING is well under way for Hannah Byrne and Mark Winn of commercial firm Thynne + Macartney, as they gear up to tackle more than a thousand kilometres on the bike next month for charity.
The pair will begin the gruelling RideWest challenge from Brisbane to Longreach on May 6 in support of the Royal Flying Doctors mental health service.
Byrne, one of the team members in Thynne + Macartney's agribusiness department, says mental health in remote communities is a cause close at heart.
"I have a family background in agriculture and rural life, so being able to help communities in rural and remote Queensland move forward with their mental health programs is also important to me," says Byrne.
"I know people who have suffered from mental health issues and have seen the long-term impact this can have, not only on the individual but on their families."
"I believe that by supporting and participating in events like these we can help provide more support and resources to people in the rural community who need it most."
Winn, one of the firm's commercial litigation partners, also stresses the importance of supporting those with mental health issues.
He hopes that RideWest will continue to serve as a catalyst for further change within the community.
"Supporting events like RideWest that allow us to share knowledge, change people's perspectives and give people with mental health issues more control in their lives is important to me," says Winn.
"I know it's possible to give the people with these challenges more freedom. We just need to provide the resources. That is what the ride is about for me."
Agribusiness group head Bill Loughnan says the firm is very much on board to help the pair reach the fundraising goals, with the combined target for Byrne and Winn set at $10,000.
"We are happy to sponsor Mark and Hannah for the costs of participating and also to give them all the support they need with the fundraising," says Loughnan.
"As lawyers to rural communities we have often seen the stress caused by financial hardship, isolation and the challenges of ongoing drought, floods and fire in different rural regions.
"We have been helping rural clients move forward in all aspects of their lives over multiple generations and RideWest gives us another opportunity to support them."
The total journey will last for eight days and cover a total of 1237km.
To find out more about the competition or to donate to Mark and Hannah's ride, visit the RideWest website.
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