Sixteen Metro Trains Melbourne employees have raised more than $50,000 for charity by riding 390 kilometres around Australia – all from the comfort of their own homes.

Team Metro – otherwise known as ‘The Pristine 16’ – participated in Lifeline’s Hope Cycle campaign, collectively cycling 6240 kilometres along 15 stages of Australia’s most iconic cycling destinations, including Melbourne’s own Beach Road.

The Pristine 16 peddled their hearts out and raised an incredible $31,066, which will pay for nearly 800 lifesaving calls to Lifeline.

The team was thrilled to learn that after their mammoth cycling efforts, Metro CEO Raymond O’Flaherty announced that the company would contribute a further $20,000 to the campaign.

This bumped up Metro’s total contribution to more than $50,000!

Lifeline’s Hope Cycle campaign raised $172,736 in total, surpassing its goal of $100,000.

Metro’s Projects division Team Leader Alan Campbell came third as an individual fundraiser for the event, raising a total of $8,205.

Alan has been riding for almost three years and is passionate about supporting Lifeline and raising awareness of mental health and suicide prevention services.

“Our rail industry and our community as a whole have had our struggles during this pandemic and I wanted to help in any way I could, more importantly, I wanted people to know that they weren’t alone,” Alan said.

Metro Trains Melbourne is an ongoing supporter of Lifeline. To find out more please visit lifeline.org.au.