The Hawaiian Ride for Youth 2025 has raised an incredible $2,005,455 to support Youth Focus and young Western Australians.
On Tuesday 25th March, over 140 riders and 40 support crew rode out of Albany for their 700km journey back to Perth. The riders faced tough conditions, but as always, they rallied together, showing the strength of the community and camaraderie. Across the week, they visited 16 schools, encouraging young people to talk about their mental health, and to seek and accept help when it’s needed, and sharing with them their own stories, actively displaying to students that talking about mental health is courageous and potentially life changing.
The Hawaiian Ride for Youth is an incredible community of riders, with 41 first year riders joining the community this year and a number of long-term riders returning for another year. The community is inclusive, supportive, and passionate about raising awareness and funds for youth mental health.
Youth Focus CEO Derry Simpson reflected on the community of riders, saying, “The Hawaiian Ride for Youth is a symbol of what communities can achieve when they come together for a greater cause.
“Seeing both seasoned and first-time riders, including families passing on the legacy of support, shows the long-lasting impact we’re creating for future generations of Western Australians.”
This year, Avoca Insurance and Risk and Budget Car and Truck Rentals celebrated 20 years of partnership with the Hawaiian Ride for Youth. Their long-standing commitment – through both active involvement and financial support – reflects their dedication to youth mental health. To celebrate, Budget sponsored the inaugural 2 Day Challenge, which saw a group of 30 cyclists ride down from Perth to Mandurah, to meet the pelotons, and join for a school visit, before riding home to Perth together on Saturday. The Hawaiian Ride for Youth 2 Day Challenge was created to acknowledge long-time sponsors, potential new sponsors, WA leaders and some of our incredible coaches.
This year also marked Hawaiian’s 23rd year as naming rights partner, having supported this event since the very first ride, demonstrating their deep c commitment to young people across WA.
The Welcome Home Ceremony, held on Saturday 29th March, is always a highlight for both riders, and the community who has supported them from home, and this year was no different, with hundreds of people joining us to cheer on the riders for the final leg. Behind every rider is an army of family, friends and supporters who make the event possible. It takes an enormous commitment from the entire community to make the Hawaiian Ride for Youth successful year after year.
Over the 23 years, the Hawaiian Ride for Youth has raised $36 million for youth mental health in WA, helping us to support thousands of young people across WA so they can get the mental health services they need, when and where they need them