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My name is Richard Jansen, I am 41 years of age with three children and I have been suffering from depression for the last few years. I have also lost a very close friend of mine to this illness, his name is Tony Loftus - a father of two.
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| Depression can effect people in so many different ways and it can also lead to suicide. |
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I have been a State Sales Manager for most of my life and a National Sales Manager for the last six years at ABC Photosigns. It has gotten to the point now where the depression has made me unable to do my job in a professional manner and I am having to take unpaid leave to help manage this dreadful illness.
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| I am so lucky to have a boss that is willing to support me through this tough time, as he is willing to keep my position open until such time as I return. I will be forever grateful to Michael and Kathy Hollingsworth for sticking by me. |
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I would like to start an annual campaign starting on the 1st of March each year that will involve bike riders around Australia to help raise money for Lifeline. I would like everybody who buys a t-shirt of mine to wear it on the 1st of March 2009 for public awareness of depression.
My aim is to gain public awareness and to raise enough money from my bike ride to help save the life of another person in the same situation as I am. If I can just save one life, then this ride will be worth all the pain I am about to endure. I have sponsors who have helped make this epic journey possible and now I am looking for companies and the community to get behind me and donate money to Lifeline to help save the lives of others.
My journey will be updated daily with notes and photographs and also a personal diary for people to read. All donations will be made visible. Please remember depression can effect anybody at anytime.
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| I am not a professional bike rider nor do I class myself as the fittest person around. I am just your average working class man with an illness, but I am willing to fight this and do something about it. |
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| I am training hard to get myself ready and to make a difference in Australia about depression. |
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Follow my journey as I talk to local people in towns and in other states and together as a nation we can make a change to people experiencing depression.
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Regards
Richard Jansen
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