Gore Police warmly welcomed the White Ribbon Riders to Southland yesterday despite the wet and cold weather.

The RIDE18 event, designed to raise awareness and end violence toward woman, involves motorcycle riders touring towns around the country.

The Gore event was hosted by Women’s Refuge and well attended, supported by members of the community as well as local Police.

A rousing performance by the Longford Intermediate Kapa Haka group kicked off the day followed by a welcome from Mayor Tracy Hicks and Senior Sergeant Cynthia Fairley.

The message of anti-violence toward women, and the message ‘STAND UP, SPEAK UP and ACT’ was well received said Senior Sergeant Fairley.

“It was great hearing the riders share their own stories along with some hot food and drink after their ride from Central Otago in the wintery conditions.”

The convoy is headed on to Mataura and Invercargill today and will be calling into Milton and Oamaru later this week.

For more information, visit the White Ribbon website: https://whiteribbon.org.nz/act/white-ribbon-ride/

ENDS

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