White Ribbon Ride 2010 should be a cracker

Communities throughout New Zealand are being asked to take part in the White Ribbon Motorcycle ride in November to make a stand against violence towards women.

The ride, organised by the Families Commission as part of the White Ribbon campaign, will start in Tauranga and travel through the centre of the North Island to Wellington and then north via eastern and western routes to Auckland and Bream Bay.

“Based on the enthusiasm displayed last year, 2010 should be one to watch out for! Communities opened up their hearts and those meeting the riders found they had a shared commitment to ending family violence”, says Bruce Pilbrow, Deputy Chief Commissioner. “This is an opportunity for communities to show their support for White Ribbon and acknowledge that violence in New Zealand families is unacceptable.

“White Ribbon is a symbol of our intolerance towards violence; more than 500,000 New Zealanders wore ribbons last year as a pledge to never commit or condone violence against women,” says Mr Pilbrow.

In 2009 the White Ribbon Ride visited over 35 towns and cities throughout the North Island with more than 200 riders taking part. Riders had the option of traveling the whole distance or joining it for smaller runs. At each destination riders were met with events, rallies, sausage sizzles, forums and hakas – all designed to promote the anti-violence message in their communities.

“We are now asking communities through-out the North Island to register their interest in the 2010 White Ribbon Ride so that we can finalise the routes” says Mr Pilbrow.

The ride will be led by the Patriot Motorcycle Club and Super Maori Fullas, brothers who grew up the Super Māori Fulla way – surrounded by love and respect. Now they use the visibility and mobility of their bikes to encourage all New Zealanders to show that they are against violence towards women.

The Super Maori Fullas will be supported by the Patriot Motorcycle Club whose members are drawn from serving or past members of the New Zealand Defence Forces.

Communities who wish to participate in the ride should fill in a registration of interest at http://whiteribbon.org.nz/get-involved/white-ribbon-ride/ or contact the Families Commission for further information.