Murph helping drive anti-suicide campaign
Motorsport star Greg Murphy
AN emotional Greg Murphy is helping drive a campaign to tackle New Zealand’s horror suicide rate.
The Kiwi motorsport legend and high-profile businessman Mike Pero have combined to promote the Casper suicide awareness campaign.
Both are actively involved in raising money for the charity, cofounded by Maria Bradshaw.
Murphy has Casper emblazoned on his New Zealand Mike Pero Mortgages-sponsored V8 SuperTourer car, which will compete at Waikato’s Hampton Downs track next weekend.
‘‘It [New Zealand’s suicide rate] is just horrific,’’ Murphy told Sunday News from his Melbourne base.
‘‘We went and had a meeting with Maria and she gave us some information and figures.
‘‘I was completely unaware of the tragedy that is going on in New Zealand with young people committing suicide and the rate of it.’’
Casper (Community Action on Suicide Prevention Education and Research) aims to highlight the need to address the epidemic, as well as provide networking and support for grieving families.
Every week, an average of 11 Kiwis take their own lives.
New Zealand has the highest rate of youth suicide in the OECD.
Our suicide rate is about 50 per cent higher than our road toll, with 10 per cent of deaths of 10 to 14-yearolds due to suicide.
Murphy, 39, who has three young children, said he was shocked at the number of New Zealanders taking their own lives.
‘‘Mike and I have become heavily involved with trying to raise the awareness of Casper,’’ the four-time Bathurst 1000 winner said.
‘‘I have been in rooms when Maria is [addressing audiences] . . . It gets people, there is no question about it . . . [it] brings grown men to cry pretty easily.’’
The Mike Pero Mortgages racing team linked with Casper after Pero saw Australian V8 Supercar legend Mark Skaife front a suicide awareness campaign at last year’s Bathurst 1000.
Pero – a father of four – said he thought about being involved in a similar initiative in New Zealand. He approached Casper and was instantly impressed with their vision.
‘‘I am a very lucky New Zealander who has built a business around a personality. I am happy to [help],’’ he said.
‘‘I have lost a few friends over the years through suicide. ‘‘We are the best at the world in rugby and the worst in the world at suicide.
‘‘We are out there campaigning to save lives.’’
Pero described his racing team’s involvement with Casper as ‘‘a very unique relationship between sport, business and a charity’’.
‘‘Every round we have Casper people there and we are collecting money and raising awareness,’’ he said.
‘‘We can go away from a round with several thousand dollars of coins and notes in buckets that
goes straight to Casper.’’