Jessica Harwood

I'm Riding for Mental Health in The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride

It's that time again! I'm riding dapper for a great cause 🏍️✨

I’m proud to be joining DGR for the 6th year running - joining thousands of classic and vintage style motorbike enthusiasts all around the world, to raise funds and awareness for men’s mental health and prostate cancer research.

Seeing thousands of riders suit up all around the world and unite for something bigger than ourselves is always a powerful reminder of the strength in community ✊🏽

As some reading this may already know, mental health struggles hit close to home for me and my beautiful family, as they sadly do for so many others around us.

Losing my beautiful mum to suicide at 17 changed our lives completely. All these years later, not a day goes by that I don’t miss her, and I often stop to think about all the special moments in life she no longer gets to share with us. It was also hard to see the flow-on effect of my dad’s pain, and to look back knowing that talking about what he was going through didn’t come easily for him - as I imagine is the case for many loving father figures trying to stay strong.

It also sparked a fire in me to better understand mental health, and to advocate for just how important it is for all of us to be curious, speak up, check in on those we love, and uplift others in any way we can.

On average in Australia, eight people take their own lives every day - six of whom are men. Globally, we lose one man to suicide every minute of every day. That’s half a million every year. How heartbreakingly devastating is that?

Mental health, and the struggles that come with it, are incredibly complex. But we do know this: improving overall mental wellbeing, removing the stigma that so often accompanies mental health challenges, and helping men build stronger social connections, all support in reduce the risk of suicide.

Together we can speak up more, educate ourselves, create spaces where the people we love feel safe to open up, and support amazing charities like DGR x Movember - who are not only funding groundbreaking research, but also creating communities and giving a voice to those who may have previously felt they didn’t have one.

I’m proud to be supporting such an important cause, and I would love your support in helping me reach my fundraising goal. Every contribution, no matter how big or small, makes a difference and brings us closer to better understanding and supporting the health of all the dads, brothers, sons, uncles, friends, colleagues, and partners we all love so much.

Thank you for your support!