24th October 2017
Amy-Nicole Peters cycled into Adelaide today. Halfway through her transcontintental 6000km ride across Australia talking about mental health. She says: “I started this ride to show that you don't have to be a superhero to take on challenges in life. Even endless and impossible challenges like riding a bike across Australia are achievable if you do it a little bit at a time. I have struggled with mental illness most of my life. I want others to know that even though it may be tough, there is help out there and you can get through it.”
So far her journey has included moments of epic wonder, harsh struggle and wonderful connection. She has ridden the Munda Biddi trail in Western Australia. She has crossed The Nullabor. She battled 45 degree heat with a headwind for days. She's even fought off that tiny voice telling her she’s crazy and should give up. “I would say that the easy part is the bike riding. The challenging part is the elements. Extreme wind, rain, sun, cold and heat combines with the logistics of figuring out where to camp and what to eat. That's what takes it out of me.” Amy says, “The most preparation I did for this ride was riding 15km to work every day. To be honest nothing can prepare you for riding your bike for 12 hours a day into a head wind except riding your bike for 12 hours a day into a head wind. At the start and end of every day now I am so grateful for all of the people who have helped me out along the way. Even that slightly chilled 'been-in-a-car' water is heavenly."
Amy-Nicole is raising money for the charities Lifeline, Beyond Blue, Black Dog and Qlife. She says; “I want to show how much help and support is out there and give to those organisations that help so many people living with mental health issues. I have spoken to lots of people so far on my journey and all of them have personal connections to issues of mental health. Unfortunately, many of them have never heard of these fantastic organisations.“
“Australia and Australians needs to talk more about their issues.”
Photos by Keith Hedgeland
Media Release - Suicidal to inspirational: telling a hard story the hard way
September 20th 2017
September 20th 2017
Only a few years ago she couldn't get out of bed, today 30-year-old Amy-Nicole Peters will get out of her tent and continue her 6000km+ self-supported odyssey across Australia by bike.
“I want to raise awareness about the mental health crises in Australia” Amy-Nicole says, “I have come close to ending my life many times over the years and for a long time I told no-one. I suffered from severe anxiety and depression. I have struggled with panic attacks, blurred vision and severe lethargy. For a long time I kept it all to myself. When I got help I learned how powerful it was to open up and it helped me heal. I know others will hear my story and relate. I want them to know they are not alone. There is always someone to talk to.”
With a staunch and enthusiastic determination, Amy-Nicole is well on her way towards raising $25,000 for Beyond Blue, Lifeline, The Black Dog Institute and QLife. She set off from Perth on the 27th August and to date has over 1500km of her 6000km+ route. In the next week she will start her traverse of The Nullarbor Plain. She hopes to reach Adelaide by mid October
“I started Pushbiking for Mental Health to share my experience – as daunting as it is. I want to show that we can overcome the shame and stigma surrounding mental health by having conversations about how we are feeling.” says Amy-Nicole. “I have had to work really hard to be where I am. To be in this mental position where I can stand here today and say I am alive and I want to live. Riding my bike has played a massive part in that but I also couldn’t have done it without the health professionals I have sought help from.”
Amy-Nicole thinks Australia has to move past a culture of ‘harden up, mate’ towards a culture of ‘I've gotcha back, mate.’
Contact Amy-Nicole for comment or photo opportunity:
Media publications -
Online :
Online :
https://www.shewentwild.com/blogposts/2017/7/8/pushbiking-for-mental-health
https://www.coveredmagazine.com.au/the-stories/push-biking-for-mental-health
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