Cynthia Cook

🧡 Tomorrow needs you 🧡

This October, I’m taking part in One Foot Forward, walking 40km over the month to raise awareness and funds for mental health.

I’ll be honest I never truly understood mental health until I experienced it myself.

When my Dad was diagnosed with cancer, my world spiralled. I found myself in a very dark place, needing help and medication to cope with our new “normal”. Dad’s journey became our journey, and I felt like I had to stay strong for him.

Dad passed away six years ago, and that experience changed me in ways I’m still learning to understand. It also made me reflect on the people I’d known over the years who had struggled with their mental health. I realised that I hadn’t always understood what they were going through or known how to be there for the people I cared about.

One of those people is my own daughter, who has struggled with anxiety since she was a little girl. Watching someone you love struggle is hard, especially when you wish you could take it all away for them.

Over time, my perspective on life and the world around me changed. I began to understand that mental health is not always visible, and that sometimes, simply getting through the day takes more strength than people realise.

In January this year, I was diagnosed with cancer myself. Although the diagnosis was recent, it followed a four year journey, and once again, my mental health took a hit.

The truth is, those struggles never completely disappeared. I’ve simply learned to navigate life differently, finding ways to keep going even when things feel heavy.

So this October, I’m putting one foot in front of the other quite literally.

This walk is about more than covering 40km. It’s about raising awareness, starting conversations and reminding people that mental health matters. It’s about recognising that the people who look like they’re holding everything together may be struggling behind the scenes, too.

You never really know what someone else is carrying, and sometimes, a little understanding, a listening ear or simply asking someone if they’re okay can mean more than you realise.

40km. One month. One foot forward. One step at a time. 🧡

If you’re able to support my journey with a donation, I’d be forever grateful. Every contribution helps raise awareness and support people experiencing mental health challenges.

Thank you for being part of this journey with me. 🫶🏼🧡