TWO wheels, a swag, the horizon and 10,000km of road will be ahead of Tony McNeill today as he heads off on an around Australia trek to raise awareness about depression.
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The 57-year-old will be joined on motorbike by his brother and together the duo will traverse five states over the next three-and-a-half weeks on their way to Broome before turning around and heading home.
For Mr McNeill, creating greater awareness about the impacts of depression and encouraging open discussion could very well help save someone's life.
"Over the years, like most of us, I've lost mates or family to suicide and each time I hear about another person who couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel, I feel the waste," Mr McNeill said.
It was this sense of tragic loss that inspired Mr McNeill to take action with all money raised on the trek to be donated to beyondblue.
Their route will take in Broken Hill, Wilpena Pound, Oonadatta, the Tanami Desert, Broome, Darwin and Birdsville.
Mr McNeill expects to cover about 600km each day and is armed with a bag of spare parts in the event their trusty bikes fail them.
A highlight of the ride will be a stopover at Uluru and covering some of the country's most iconic dirt bike tracks.
"It's not everyone's idea of a holiday, but it's all about helping those who are doing it tough," Mr McNeill said.
"I really want to raise awareness and funds along the way by busking with my guitar.
"What a lot of people don't appreciate is that depression is an illness.
"When you hear about someone committing suicide, you ask yourself how could they do it, but it's a sickness."
Anyone wanting to make donations to their effort can do so at give.everydayhero.com/au/broome-and-back-on-beemers