My Walk

My Progress

72km

My Target

63km

Day seven - Final walk complete and thanks!

Today was day 7 of the walk, the final day. Got in 9.0km walking around the neighbourhood again, mainly through an early morning walk with my friend and her dog.

My friend Michela, who's doing this with me, is finishing her walk in the next few days, but for now, I just want to those who have contributed to the fundraiser. Our team has so far raised $2,591, thanks to your generosity!

Thank you, and look after yourself.

Day six - another walk to work.

Today was another walk to work day. Decided to take a longer route, so that I was able to hit the 9km target without having to walk home. Nice Melbourne drizzle accompanied me on my walk.

Tomorrow is Worldwide Suicide Prevention Day (Sept 10). This fundraiser is to raise awareness of suicide, so I thought I'd share some personal reflections.

My first encounter with suicide was when I was in school and a fellow student chose to end their life. This shook me. It was the first time I realised that it was a real option - that even capable, intelligent people, that seemingly had it together, thought life was not worth living, that there's no way out. It wasn't just that one person, I continued to encounter many that battled these thoughts and the demons inside.

Lifeline's vision is an Australia free of suicide. As a volunteer at Lifeline hearing all the stories, and being a regular human being that also struggles deeply at times, I can see how this vision seems incredibly hard to reach. Nevertheless, I do believe suicide can be prevented, and one of the ways to prevent it is by raising awareness, reducing stigma, and creating greater understanding of something that affects so many of us.

There's always a way out.

Day five - another morning walk, another nice spring day

Monday morning, another 9km walk this time before work. Great to walk with some friends around the neighbourhood, and ending up with a nice coffee. Spring was here again today in Melbourne which made the early morning walk present.

Mental health reflection of the day - I was chatting to my tax accountant regarding variations in income year-on-year. He said that he was seeing more professional people taking time off to look after their mental health - often after a lot of thinking about their financial situation. Apparently women do it more than men - he thinks men overthinks it. I think it's good mental health is more front of mind, and people are taking the time off to recover if they need - but the reality is some people won't be able to afford it, and even if they can, isn't it better if we just create more mentally healthy workplaces?

Day four - in the sunshine, wind and rain

Today's walk just ticked over the 9km mark at 9.17km. The walk was through a typical Melbourne day, starting off with immense wind, then rain, ending with a nice bout of sunshine. Route went through our church service this morning, the library to pick up and drop off some books, and an interesting cafe called Palette in North Melbourne with a delicious Korean inspired brioche sandwich (garlic, bacon and egg) - so good!

Mental health reflection for the day - I was speaking to someone at church who shared with me that today, which is Father's Day here in Australia, was a difficult day for their family, as the father had chosen to end their life a few years ago. The heartbreak this is, the resilience that family and friends show.

We never know what people are really going through. Worthwhile reaching out.

Day three - Team walk at Warrandyte State Park

Our team did our walk together today - two loops of the Mount Lofty walk at Warrandyte State Park, to achieve the 9km.

Did another 3km afterwards, a good solid day of walking on a beautiful spring day.

Day two - early morning neighbourhood walk

Was an early morning walk today - walk in the neighbourhood with a friend in the nice chilly Melbourne morning. Completed 8km by 8am! While walking, I listened to the audiobook “Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt - in it, he makes the argument that the spread of smartphones from the early 2010s has led to a mental health crisis particularly in adolescents, and what how society can respond and arrest this problem. Would recommend this book - has some sobering stats.

Day one - the walk has begun!

The 7-day challenge of 9km a day has begun. Did a nice walk to work and back today, including a stop at with a friend at a good pasta joint (Royal standard hotel). 14.5km today, so a good start!

My food for thought today: I was asked by someone why I chose to support Lifeline. At it's core, it's because I believe like is hard, most people struggle despite how they appear, and having a space where one can be heard and believed can really help, sometimes even to the point of saving a life. And that is worthwhile.

Walking to remember those lost to suicide and help those in crisis

Starting on September 10 (Worldwide Suicide Prevention Day) I, together with friends, will take part in Out of the Shadows to raise awareness for suicide and funds for Lifeline. Michela and I will be walking 9km a day for 7 days, to remember the 9 people lost to suicide every day. Jane will join us on September 10 for the 9km walk.

Tragically, every year over 65,000 Australians attempt to take their own life and over 3,000 Australians die by suicide. I'm walking to raise funds for Lifeline, an organisation that provides suicide prevention services and support for Australians in need. Lifeline receives over 1 million contacts from people in crisis each year.

Please support our walk and sponsor us to help those in crisis - no contribution is too small. Together, we can ensure that no one has to face their darkest moments alone.

My impact so far

I've raised $1,559 so far to answer 39 calls for Lifeline's crisis support hotline to connect and bring hope to people in crisis.

With your support, we can ensure that no person has to face their darkest moments alone.