| QUESTION: | What has eight wheels, flashing orange lights, breathes heavily and travels the highway all year at 60 km per day? |
| ANSWER: | A Daihatsu-assisted Ben Carey. | Sixty kilometres a day is slow progress by automotive standards but Ben Carey is a man with a mission. More precisely, Ben Carey is a man with a bicycle, a Daihatsu Terios support car, a camper trailer - and a 22,000 km ride around Australia ahead of him.
Supported by Daihatsu Australia, the 23 year old Quirindi-born Sports Science graduate is pedalling a vital message around Australia:- “Suicide is Preventable.”
On the eve of the Easter break with its infamous road carnage, it is important to note that suicide takes more lives than road deaths. Some 2,500 mostly young Australians take their life each year.
Ben Carey’s best friend took his own life three years ago and Ben wound up in hospital suffering depression. With his Cycle for Life ride he is hoping to raise $1 million dollars from donations and corporate sponsorships to go towards suicide prevention.
By Easter the unusual six-wheeled convoy will be heading north along the NSW coast in an anti-clockwise route around the nation covering every state and territory to raise awareness of suicide prevention. During the 365 day pilgrimage, Ben Carey will visit more than 180 communities seeking real solutions and feedback to the tragedy of suicide.
While not mandatory outside of the scheduled new car service calls, pit stops at Daihatsu dealers will occur along the way. The Daihatsu team want to personally wish Ben and his friend and support driver Christian Tancred good luck on their journey as well as provide local knowledge of the road ahead and ensure the optimum roadworthiness of their convoy.
The Daihatsu Terios is a maroon DX series additionally equipped with tow-bar for the camper trailer and roof mounted hazard lights. The convoy is emblazoned with Cycle for Life, Daihatsu and other supporter signage and a distinct cyclist ahead warning sign.
Alan Porich, General Manager Daihatsu said that equipping the Terios with big signage, warning signs and lights would help make Ben’s convoy more visible on the road.
“We just ask that motorists keep an eye out for the little Cycle for Life convoy with its big mission. Be patient, give them plenty of room and wish them good luck,” he said.
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