Generations of families will ride together for the 2025 Hawaiian Ride for Youth in support of youth mental health
In its 23rd year, the annual Hawaiian Ride for Youth continues to create positive change for youth mental health in Western Australia, supporting the vital work of Youth Focus.
The 2025 event will bring together over 150 riders and 40 support crew, to journey 700km from Albany to Perth over four-and-a-half days, with a powerful legacy of multi-generational participants and long-standing sponsors leading the way.
While the Hawaiian Ride for Youth has previously brought families together to support this important cause, this year’s rider cohort is breaking new ground, with an incredible 16 family pairings joining forces to support Youth Focus in their efforts.
Impressively, some parents are passing the baton to their children from bike to bike, others are taking on the challenge for the first time, and still further generous families are joining as members of the support crew.
Among them is a father leading the support crew team while his daughter serves as Ride Lead for one of the pelotons, and a mother joining the support crew for her husband and first-time rider son.
This impressive cohort of riders will once again span generations, with the youngest participant aged 18, and the oldest an inspiring 84.
After months of rigorous training, the riders will embark on their journey from Albany to Perth from March 25 – 29. This year, 40 riders will be joining this incredible cause for the first time, pedalling to raise awareness and funds for an issue impacting almost half of young Australians. With nearly 40% of young people aged 16-24 having experienced a mental health challenge in the previous 12 months*, the need for increased awareness and support is greater than ever.
Along the journey, the riders will stop at 15 schools, reaching around 1,800 students in regional Western Australia, sharing their personal stories and having meaningful conversations about mental health.
The Hawaiian Ride for Youth plays an important role in opening these conversations, knowing that over three-quarters of mental health challenges occur before the age of 25**, and getting the right support early can have lifelong benefits for a young person’s health, social connections, education, and future career.
Youth Focus CEO Derry Simpson highlighted the significance of the multi-generational riders, saying, “The Hawaiian Ride for Youth is a symbol of what communities can achieve when they come together for a greater cause.
“Seeing both seasoned and first-time riders, including families passing on the legacy of support, shows the long-lasting impact we’re creating for future generations of Western Australians.”
Richard Kilbane, Hawaiian Chief Operating Officer, highlighted how much the ride has grown since its inception in 2003.
“It’s amazing to see how the Hawaiian Ride for Youth has gone from strength to strength since it began 23 years ago, when Hawaiian first came on board.
“Hawaiian is proud to be part of something that has had such a lasting impact on youth mental health. We’re not just supporting a cause, we’re part of a movement that ensures young people know they’re not alone.”
This year’s ride also sees some sponsors celebrating over 20 years of partnership, including Avoca Insurance and Claim Management, Budget Car and Truck Rentals, and naming rights sponsor, Hawaiian. The commitment of these businesses underscores the deep community ties that have helped in raising an incredible $34 million since 2003.
The funds raised through the Hawaiian Ride for Youth make an enormous difference to young people in WA, enabling Youth Focus to provide mental health support services to thousands of young people each year, helping them thrive in their community.
Following the journey, the event culminates in the highly anticipated Welcome Home Ceremony on Saturday, March 29, where riders are embraced by friends and family saluting their enormous and inspiring journey. Members of the community are warmly invited to join in the celebrations, and to cheer on the riders as they cross the finish line.
Across three distinct peloton routes—Coastal, Inland, and Wheatbelt—the riders will cover around 700km, stopping in regional towns like Collie, Walpole, Busselton, and Katanning. In these communities, they’ll raise vital awareness about youth mental health and help connect young people to the support they need.
*National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing 2020-2022 – 38.8% of young adults aged 16-24 years experienced a mental disorder in the previous 12 months
** Beyond Blue Children and Youth Statistics – Over 75% of mental health problems occur before the age of 25.