Peddling for a cause are, back row from left, Chris, Mick, Peter, Lachlan, Paul, Lyndon, Sue Leviston from The Equine Practice, Yarra Ranges Mayor Terry Avery, Fran, Chris and Anglicare’s Jim Allen. In the front are Anglicare’s Paul Dayman with William, Liam, Peter, Tim, Marnu and Anglicare’s Damian Litchfield.
By Kath Gannaway
VOLUNTEERS and staff from Anglicare Victoria’s Peaceful Warriors program will take to the road this week to raise funds for the program.
Sixteen ‘Warriors’ will ride the Port to Port bike ride leaving Mildura on Saturday 5 November and finishing in Echuca 400 kilometres away the next day.
The program trains and supports local volunteer men to mentor socially disadvantaged boys from 10 to 17 years old.
In the past six years is has helped nearly 200 adolescents.
“Program co-ordinator Paul Dayman said the program had relied on community support from day one.
“There are some boys who need extra help and all children need to feel good about themselves,” he said.
“To give them this at the right time can go a long way.”
Yarra Ranges Mayor Terry Avery spoke last week as Anglicare took the opportunity to thank supporters and sponsors, and to present the team members with their cycling jerseys.
He commended everyone involved in the Peaceful Warriors Program on its success and value to the community. “In my other job, as a cop for 32 years, I have dealt with people who you wish you could have been able to intervene and provide mentoring through such a program,” he said.
“You deal with fathers, then the son and then the grandson you’ve found wandering the streets at 2am.
“I wish there had been some program that could have helped them better, and there are kids out there how who need this sort of program so much,” he said, adding he believed there should be government funding to ensure the program continues.
Anyone who would like to volunteer with Peaceful Warriors, or sponsor a rider, can call Anglicare on 9735 6119.
