Over 100 members from Laser Plumbing & Electrical will converge on the Salvation Army’s Centennial Lodge on 13 June as part of the Trans-Tasman conference LaserCon 2017.

The tradies will spend a day at the Lodge, which provides short term crisis accommodation for up to 50 people every night, fixing plumbing and electrical issues in the 35 residence rooms and common areas. They will also perform general maintenance on the site.

“Having been to the Lodge and assessed the work required, I know that our plumbers, electricians and their families will make a huge difference to the quality of service the Salvation Army is able to provide to some of Cairn’s most vulnerable. I look forward to seeing our Laser Members and suppliers come together once more to make a difference in the lives of others,” said Laser Plumbing & Electrical project manager and Queensland director Gary Larkin.

Many of the tradies taking part will have just arrived in Cairns following a 3,500km ride from Melbourne to Cairns, which aims to raise $100,000 for the work of beyondblue.

Statistics from Price Waterhouse Cooper and the National Rural Health Alliance found construction workers are more than twice as likely to suicide as other people in Australia, with apprentices being two and a half times more likely to suicide than other young men their age.

“That’s our workplace and we’re not happy about the numbers, so we’re doing what we can to raise funds and awareness by supporting beyondblue,” said Laser Group managing director Steve Keil.

Since 2010 Laser Plumbing & Electrical has provided assistance through working bees, supplies and donations for a number of organisations, including the Gold Coast Youth Services, Variety the Children’s Charity and beyondblue in Australia, as well as Habitat for Humanity, Cholmondeley Children’s Centre, Plunket and Mental Health in New Zealand.

The group has also completed work valued at over half a million dollars to charitable organisations located in cities hosting their annual conference, in addition to raising $250,000 for the work of beyondblue.

This year’s project in Cairns, along with the Monkey off Your Back Ride, will take the Group’s charitable contributions to over one million dollars since 2010.

Cairns Regional Councillor Cathy Zeiger will be on hand to welcome the riders as they finish their ride at the FunShip Park on Cairns Esplanade.

“I am so thrilled to be able to be on site and congratulate all 35 of these riders on an enormous journey. Congratulations to Laser Group for pulling this together and to the 100 tradies who have volunteered their time to help spruce up Centennial Lodge – I am confident your generosity will be remembered particularly by the community services sector and its clients, as well as the broader Cairns community,” said Cathy.