17,128 kilometres for the conversations that matter
Lenny Deacon has completed his ride around Australia on a recumbent trike. His reason for starting was deeply personal: to honour his best mate, Dippa Wheaton.
Across every Australian state, Lenny’s trike and support van drew people over to ask about his journey. He met truckies, pub landlords, school students, mayors, MPs and strangers on the roadside. Those encounters gave him the chance to talk about mental health, listen to other people’s stories and encourage them to check in with those around them.
It is hard to imagine the determination it took to cover 17,128 kilometres. Yet the distance is only part of Lenny’s story. He set out to help Australians feel more able to speak about what they are going through, and to remind us to pay attention to our own wellbeing as well as the people we love.
His ride is finished, but his work continues.
Next month, Lenny will travel to Canberra to call for greater attention to suicide in Australia and the need for more open conversations about mental health.
To us, Lenny is a Breakthrough hero. We are grateful that he chose to raise funds for mental health research while carrying Dippa’s memory across the country.
If Lenny’s journey has inspired you, please consider donating to his fundraising page.
