Titanic Ride Out to Support Mental Health
Bikers from across Northern Ireland are invited to park on the Titanic Slipways as Aware NI launch a ‘Motorcycle Meet Up’
Irish bikers are set to descend on the Titanic Belfast as the exhibition opens its slipways to help Aware NI and the artist Terry Bradley launch ‘Motorcycle Meet Up’ - a bike meet to raise awareness of mental health.
The free-to-attend event is taking place Sunday, September 15, from 1pm to 3pm, and bikers are even invited to park up on the famous slipways where the Titanic, and her sister ship Olympic, were built and launched more than a hundred years ago. The meeting of like-minded bikers is being described as an opportunity to bring together bikers and bike fans from across Ireland, allowing them to meet and talk, while also highlighting the mental health services available to them.
Coinciding with the event is Terry Bradley’s free summer exhibition – Dockers & Dolls – The Art of Terry Bradley, which will also be accessible to visitors to the bike meet. Terry is an artist, an extremely avid biker, and a stalwart of the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride. He’s also open about his own mental health struggles and claims that bikes are his escapism, providing him with solitude and helping to keep him calm.
Speaking about the ‘Motorcycle Meet Up’, Mr Bradley said:
“Throughout my career, I have shared my own mental health struggles and I’m a firm believer that talking openly and publicly has helped me accept this part of my life and be able to deal with it on a daily basis. In doing this, I hope I have encouraged other people to do the same. It’s important that anyone struggling with their own mental health, knows that they are not alone. There are so many people around you in your own circle, as well as many organisations, who are there to help and support you. The first step is starting the conversation.
“I am delighted to team up with Titanic Belfast and AWARE NI to launch the ‘Motorcycle Meet Up’, an opportunity for everyone, not just bikers, to come along and talk. It will be a supportive environment, where you will be able to speak to people who are there to help and can also signpost you to where you can find further support.”
Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
