The inaugural Ride Blue mental health awareness ride on April 10 wants to get local riders out of their sheds and open to talking about their own health.

“Because there's lots of men in Orange who restore old motorbike and do stuff like that and they don't mix with other people or get out of the shed,” said Richard Whitton, a retired mental health nurse educator and member of the Orange Classic and Cafe Racer Club who have teamed up with the Orange Suicide Prevention Network to put on the ride.

“It was started by a man called Steve Dougherty in 2015, basically as a loose cover for a Men's health organization, where it was to get guys out of the shed. So we go to breakfast once a fortnight on a Sunday morning and basically talk about motorbikes and talk about men's health, but it becomes a supporting organisation for each of us as well.”

“Steve contacted Sharon Taylor and Casey Naden through the suicide prevention network to put this on and they've done a wonderful amount of work.”

Ride Blue is not a fundraising event and thanks to generous sponsors it is free for all who take part.

Ashcroft’s IGA are providing a free breakfast prior to the ride at their Peisley Street store from 8.30am on April 10. Riders will then depart at 10am for Molong, Manildra, Cudal, Canowindra, Mandurama and finally Tallwood.

North Orange Woolworths have supplied lunch at Tallwood, which is being cooked by volunteers from Lifeline.

“There’s just about every NGO in Orange involved, it’s a massive thing!” said Richard.

“The idea of this was it was to be no cost to anyone and then the supermarkets came on board to give us food so that’s made it even better.”

At Tallwood, there will be a bike show with $2000 in prizes and giveaways, along with health information stalls.

Richard is expecting about 200 riders to take part.

“We know of riders coming from Melbourne, from Western NSW and a couple coming from Gunalda up near Gympie. We are also hoping for a contingent from southern NSW,” he said.

“We want see men and women and their families there — anybody who has an interest in mental health.”

The messages of the ride is ‘Talk is Strength,’ that opening up to friends or being their to listen can have a lifesaving impact.

“It’s basically saying that speaking to each other and saying we care is a strong stand point to come from,” said Richard.

“We can either point someone in the right direction or catch blokes before they fall down or, if they are just worried, being able to validate their worries, being able to actually speak to someone who has an open ear and an open mind and may be able to help, but otherwise can just be there.

“Sometime just to air what's going on can improve a person’s feelings about life and their wellbeing.”

For more information about the ride contact Steve on 0438640197 or Richard on 0413093350.