Sabrinas Ride 4 Life
Donation protected
Parents Michael and Lidia Di Lembo, family and friends of Sabrina Josephine Di Lembo are pleased to announce they will be organizing a series of events as part of “SabrinasRide4Life” which includes an NT Lottery supported by local Italian Social Welfare and Scolastic Association known as C.I.A.S.S, to commence on 28 March 2018, which will raise much needed funds for the Black Dog Institute and support a mammoth bike ride to commence in Adelaide on Monday 22 May and end in Darwin at Mindil Beach Markets on Sunday 24 June 2018.
Sabrina was Michael and Lidia’s youngest child and sister to Anthony and Joshua Di Lembo. Sabrina was only 19 years old when she completed suicide on 7 August 2017 after suffering from anxiety which progressed to depression. “The immeasurable loss of Sabrina, the profound grief and the devastating impact on everyone who knew her is still being deeply felt, we know will lessen over time but will never go away. We know many other families, particularly in the NT, have lost loved ones to suicide or continue to be impacted by those who suffer from mental illnesses and at risk of suicide. We know we are not alone and have committed to speak up and raise awareness by organizing these events, which may help in a small way to not only encourage help seeking behaviours but make this issue everyone’s business” said Lidia.
Funds raised from the lottery and ride will go to the Black Dog Institute, an organization dedicated to understanding, preventing and treating mental illness. Their focus is about creating a world where mental illness is treated with the same level of concern, immediacy and seriousness as physical illness; where scientists work to discover the causes of illness and new treatments, and where discoveries are immediately put into practice through health services, technology and community education.
To date, approximately $30,000 has already been raised on Sabrina’s everyday hero page and our goal is to reach $100,000 for the Black Dog Institute. Michael and Lidia are very grateful for all family, friends and the community who have already generously donated to the Black Dog Institute.
If funds raised exceed our target of $100,000, then we aim to establish a Scholarship to support a local young person enrolled at Charles Darwin University and/or support a local organization or initiative dedicated to promote mental health and suicide prevention.
A small group of cyclists will ride with a support team of family and friends, from Adelaide to Darwin – rounding out an approximate 3000km journey.
The ride will start on Monday 21 May and conclude on Sunday 24 June 2018. There will be time for a few rest days in between which we hope will allow us the opportunity to speak in the local community to promote mental health, raise awareness of mental illness and suicide prevention.
“After what happened, so unexpectedly to our precious daughter, we want to raise awareness of mental health and even if we save one life and/or family from dealing with a tragic loss likes ours, we feel we have done something to prevent this happening in our community” said Lidia.
“A bike ride from Adelaide to Darwin, which I know is a bit extreme, seems an appropriate way to do this, even though we are not cyclists (but have started training) we are committed to this milestone event to help make a difference”.
“I am 62 years old and haven’t been on a bike since my early 30s, but I have been so deeply impacted by the senseless loss of my daughter, that I have to do this and hope the cause can raise much needed awareness in the community about understanding mental illness and promote hope of life” Michael said.
"Since we lost Sabrina, we have been in a daze wondering what went wrong, how did this happen to our daughter and to us, looking for answers that will never be resolved. We want to try to help others and give hope that life is worth living, to have courage to trust and speak with family and friends to seek support and not be ashamed or feel like a burden” said Lidia.
“The ride is over 3000kms and will test all of us. But it is sure to be an incredible experience – celebrating Sabrina’s life and knowing we can help others, in a small way” Michael added.
“We hope everyone gets behind us so we can raise funds for the Black Dog Institute and if possible an initiative to benefit a local” Lidia stated.
For the latest news, updates and details on how to help or donate, people are encouraged to follow “SabrinasRide4Life” on:
www.facebook.sabrinasride4life
www.sabrinasride4life.gofundraise.com.au
Sabrina was Michael and Lidia’s youngest child and sister to Anthony and Joshua Di Lembo. Sabrina was only 19 years old when she completed suicide on 7 August 2017 after suffering from anxiety which progressed to depression. “The immeasurable loss of Sabrina, the profound grief and the devastating impact on everyone who knew her is still being deeply felt, we know will lessen over time but will never go away. We know many other families, particularly in the NT, have lost loved ones to suicide or continue to be impacted by those who suffer from mental illnesses and at risk of suicide. We know we are not alone and have committed to speak up and raise awareness by organizing these events, which may help in a small way to not only encourage help seeking behaviours but make this issue everyone’s business” said Lidia.
Funds raised from the lottery and ride will go to the Black Dog Institute, an organization dedicated to understanding, preventing and treating mental illness. Their focus is about creating a world where mental illness is treated with the same level of concern, immediacy and seriousness as physical illness; where scientists work to discover the causes of illness and new treatments, and where discoveries are immediately put into practice through health services, technology and community education.
To date, approximately $30,000 has already been raised on Sabrina’s everyday hero page and our goal is to reach $100,000 for the Black Dog Institute. Michael and Lidia are very grateful for all family, friends and the community who have already generously donated to the Black Dog Institute.
If funds raised exceed our target of $100,000, then we aim to establish a Scholarship to support a local young person enrolled at Charles Darwin University and/or support a local organization or initiative dedicated to promote mental health and suicide prevention.
A small group of cyclists will ride with a support team of family and friends, from Adelaide to Darwin – rounding out an approximate 3000km journey.
The ride will start on Monday 21 May and conclude on Sunday 24 June 2018. There will be time for a few rest days in between which we hope will allow us the opportunity to speak in the local community to promote mental health, raise awareness of mental illness and suicide prevention.
“After what happened, so unexpectedly to our precious daughter, we want to raise awareness of mental health and even if we save one life and/or family from dealing with a tragic loss likes ours, we feel we have done something to prevent this happening in our community” said Lidia.
“A bike ride from Adelaide to Darwin, which I know is a bit extreme, seems an appropriate way to do this, even though we are not cyclists (but have started training) we are committed to this milestone event to help make a difference”.
“I am 62 years old and haven’t been on a bike since my early 30s, but I have been so deeply impacted by the senseless loss of my daughter, that I have to do this and hope the cause can raise much needed awareness in the community about understanding mental illness and promote hope of life” Michael said.
"Since we lost Sabrina, we have been in a daze wondering what went wrong, how did this happen to our daughter and to us, looking for answers that will never be resolved. We want to try to help others and give hope that life is worth living, to have courage to trust and speak with family and friends to seek support and not be ashamed or feel like a burden” said Lidia.
“The ride is over 3000kms and will test all of us. But it is sure to be an incredible experience – celebrating Sabrina’s life and knowing we can help others, in a small way” Michael added.
“We hope everyone gets behind us so we can raise funds for the Black Dog Institute and if possible an initiative to benefit a local” Lidia stated.
For the latest news, updates and details on how to help or donate, people are encouraged to follow “SabrinasRide4Life” on:
www.facebook.sabrinasride4life
www.sabrinasride4life.gofundraise.com.au
Organizer
Lidia Di Lembo
Organizer
Charles Darwin NT
Inspired to help? Start a fundraiser for someone you know
