THE 2014 Tour Da Country riders closed in on the final stages of their journey on Friday.
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To celebrate, local community members came together at a Family Fun Day in Albion Park on Friday.
Since starting on November 16 in Albury the riders have travelled through 15 towns over 13 days.
The aim of the journey was to spread awareness and raise the profile of health in a range of Aboriginal communities following recent reports estimated a life expectancy gap of 10.6 years for Aboriginal males and 9.5 years for Aboriginal females compared to non-Aboriginal Australians.
The event was led by organisers Dale Wright, Shane Venables, Ben Russell and Layne Brown.
Along the way riders paid special visit to primary schools, attended community events and participated in health days, all in the aim of closing the gap in Indigenous health.
Member of the Closing the Gap team at Illawarra-Shoalhaven Medicare Local Carolynne Leon said the event aligned with their aim of closing the gap in life expectancy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“We share the belief that Aboriginal people don’t have to be a part of the alarming statistics anymore. Dale Wright is leading by example by sharing his personal health journey from a life destined to be cut short, to now living an active and healthy life.” ,” Ms Leon said.
Chronic diseases, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer and respiratory disease are main contributors to the mortality ‘gap’ between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
The Family Fun Day helped to spread the health messages through a variety of health stalls and information that was available on the day, as well as a free healthy lunch and entertainment