Motorcycle Ride for Suicide Prevention and Awareness Makes a Stop in Malta

American Legion Riders Chapter 4, Dog Tag Buddies, and Tenacious Dames Riding Club teamed up to spread awareness about suicide in Montana.

The Ride for Tomorrow, adding miles to the conversation, was held on Saturday, June 19. It consisted of an Iron Butt challenge and many other summer solstice routes that bikers could ride. The Iron Butt challenge was a 1,000 mile in 24-hour ride circling the state that had about 45 to 50 riders in it, with Malta being one of the stops along the way.

The rides also helped raise money for future QPR (Question, Persuade, and Refer) presentations. These presentations help Montanans recognize the warning signs of suicide, know how to offer hope to someone in crisis, and know how to effectively get help.

The riders' stop in Malta was at Westside Convenience Store between 2:30 and 5:00 p.m.

Local teachers, Kate Webb and Anna Labrie created an awesome mural that was displayed on a trailer donated by the Niebur family. The table was manned by Webb and Danette Love from Youth Dynamics.

The ladies were handing out information pamphlets on suicide prevention and the QPR presentations to anyone that stopped by, along with sandwiches, homemade chips, snack bags, water, and Gatorade to the riders.

Love said, "We really need to send a special thank you to the entire group at Westside for making and donating all of the food and drinks."

Webb added, "And thank you to the Nieburs for lending us the trailer and helping us hang the mural on it."

The riders that were present at the time were very appreciative of the food and drink. They were between 500 and 600 miles along on the ride and were ready for a little break.

Webb said, "This is the first year the ride has been done and I think it is a little bigger than they had planned on. I hope they can make this an annual event. It's such a good cause."