Sally’s Ride for life

Sally’s Ride is not just a bike ride around Tasmania; it is an amazing feat by one woman who had a vision to prevent youth suicide in Tasmania.

“As a registered nurse I had seen the devastation families faced when a young person lost their life. Life is so precious and we need to let the kids know that they are valued and precious” said event creator and organiser Sally Fletcher.




Sally Fletcher is an inspiration. She created Sally’s Ride in 2002 and has since cycled solo four times around Tasmania cycling between 1000 and 1400 kilometres on each ride. Sally is currently on her fifth “Sally’s Ride”, which has grown enormously from previous years.

“I sat down after the ride in 2007 and decided I was doing this for the kids of Tassie and I wanted them involved. The project this year has seen me speaking to thousands of Tasmanian High School Students and I have included three community days.”

“This year there has been a significant increase in awareness in the whole of the State about my project.”

All of the money raised from “Sally’s Ride” is to be donated to the yshareit project to go towards research and the implementation of local youth suicide prevention projects in Tasmania.

The Rotary Club of Central Launceston partners Sally in her cause with the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund matching every dollar raised.

Sally has been recognised with the Tasmanian Life Award 2006 and is one of three finalists in the Awards Australia Que Orchards Outstanding Achiever Award 2007. The Sally’s Ride project was also listed in the top ten Kleenheat Gas Community of the Year Awards Australia.


The Forestry Tasmania and Southern Cross Television Community Assist program has joined “Sally’s Ride” this year by sponsoring the Hobart to Campbell Town leg of the round Tasmania cycle. Five Forestry Tasmania employees are cycling with Sally on the 135-kilometre ride stopping at schools along the way.

The Community Assist program has contributed $3700 including the initial Community Assist grant of $1000 and $20 per kilometre from Hobart to Campbell Town. Staff and the community have also generously donated at Forestry Tasmania offices around the State.

The Community Assist program is designed to support organisations and individuals who share Forestry Tasmania’s core values of Caring for people, Careful thought, Stewardship, Innovation, Passion and Integrity. Sally’s Ride certainly shares these values and deserves to be supported.



For more information on the Sally’s Ride project or the Community Assist program please contact Claire Bennett at Forestry Tasmania on (03) 6233 8244 or via e-mail at claire.bennett@forestrytas.com.au.