Ryan Stekekee , Jeff Stekekee, Carole Stekekee and Tim Goodier are taking part in the Hawaiian Ride for Youth.
Camera IconRyan Stekekee , Jeff Stekekee, Carole Stekekee and Tim Goodier are taking part in the Hawaiian Ride for Youth. Credit: Supplied/Andrew Ritchie

City Beach family to gear up and support youth mental health

Victoria RificiWestern Suburbs Weekly

THE Stekekee family will gear up and join more than 180 cyclists in an effort to support mental health in the 2019 Hawaiian Ride for Youth this month.

Carole Stekekee and her husband Jeff, son Ryan and brother-in-law Tim will travel on bike from Geraldton to Perth, part of the Mid-West cycling route which will span four-and-a-half days.

Ms Stekekee, who is a City Beach resident and University of Notre Dame professor, said this would be her third time in the ride and her husband Jeff will saddle up for the seventh time.

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This will be Ryan and Tim’s first time taking part.

“Ryan and Tim have witnessed Jeff and myself not only involved with training but also returning with great stories and praising efforts of the ride, so they were motivated by that to get involved,” Ms Stekekee said.

Ms Stekekee and her family have been training for six months, ahead of the 700km trek on March 26 to 30.

“We’ve been riding about 260km each week,” she said.

The four-person team has already raised $25,000 to go towards Youth Focus and supporting young people with mental health issues.

“I work at Notre Dame so I work closely with young adults, and as a mother I’m only too aware of the issues and stressors placed on young people today,” Ms Stekekee said.

“In a way my work and being mum has made me want to do as much as I can to help Youth Focus do their endeavours.

‘Whether it’s social media or technology that adds to the complexity youth today have to deal with, the result we’re seeing is an increase in poor mental health.”