For better mental health

Support Our Walk for Mental Health Research

We’ve decided to take part in the Black Dog Institute’s One Foot Forward Challenge, walking 100km alongside my sister and Connor to raise awareness and funds for mental health.

For us, this challenge is incredibly personal.

The past almost two years have changed Makenzee’s life in ways we never could have imagined. What started with a workplace injury became an ongoing cycle of pain, appointments, treatments and setbacks, alongside a diagnosis of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), which has brought symptoms including paralysis, drop attacks, blackouts and spasms.

Alongside this, Makenzee has faced some incredibly dark periods with her mental health. Depression has taken her to places she never thought she would reach, and there have been times when simply getting through the day felt impossible.

Mental health isn’t always visible. Sometimes it looks like withdrawing from the people you love, losing interest in things you once enjoyed, sleeping to escape your thoughts or pretending you’re okay when you’re struggling behind closed doors.

Makenzee is still navigating depression, FND and ongoing pain, while continuing to attend appointments and try different treatments, including a recent TMS trial.

She isn’t on the other side of it yet.

But she’s still here. Still fighting. Still showing up.

That’s why we’re taking part in the One Foot Forward Challenge — to raise awareness, start conversations and remind others that they don’t have to face their struggles alone.

Every step we take is for those who are struggling silently, for those who feel like they’ve lost their way, and for everyone who needs a reminder that there is always someone willing to walk beside them. For the families and partners watching someone they love disappear beneath depression and desperately wishing they could take their pain away. And for anyone who needs the reminder that sometimes strength isn’t feeling strong at all. Sometimes strength is simply still being here.

So this October, I’ll be putting One Foot Forward — 100km, one step at a time.

Not because my battle is over.

But because I’m still here to keep fighting it. ❤️

If you’re able to donate, share our fundraiser or simply support us along the way, it would mean more to me and my family than I could ever explain.