Long journey to challenge violence
A group of bikers embarking on a 2000-kilometre ride has a simple message.
‘‘We want to get men to stand up, speak out and stop violence towards women,’’ White Ribbon ambassador Ken Mahon says.
On Saturday, the 18-strong White Ribbon crew will leave Picton on its annual South Island odyssey, travelling down the West Coast to Invercargill and back up the east coast. Along the way, the riders will stop at community and school halls to raise awareness of domestic violence.
While it’s Mahon’s first time captaining the event, he has five White Ribbon rides under his belt.
‘‘You can see that work that’s been done is starting to get out there,’’ he said.
‘‘We often have people come to us the following year and say, ‘You guys talking to us made us better – I got out of a bad relationship, or something clicked and I got some help.’’
The ‘‘highly motivated’’ group was joined at each event by speakers with stories to share – ‘‘people who have been perpetrators, and people who have been at the receiving end’’.
Mahon encourages bikers to join the crew, show up at the events and listen to the stories.
Even reaching one or two people would make the long journey worth it, he said.
"New Zealand has the worst [domestic violence] record in the Western world. We’re good at hurting our own families.’’
This year, the ride is being supported by Soroptomist International, which works to improve the lives of women and girls. At the Nelson Market last Saturday, the organisation joined the White Ribbon riders with a display of 20 pairs of shoes, representing each woman or child who died as a result of domestic violence last year.
The ride kicks off in Picton on Saturday November 16, stopping at Nelson’s 1903 Square for an event at 10.30am,
For more information, visit whiteribbon.org.nz/act/whiteribbon-ride/.