Support my 100km challenge for mental health research!

My walk is dedicated to the memory of my father, Dad

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Gayle Dawson

I’m walking in solidarity this October for Australians affected by mental illness and suicide. You are not alone. Love having the support of my hubby who is walking with me

Total Raised

$223

Total Distance

177km

Distance Goal

100km

Support My Walk for Mental Health Research

Did you know that 1 in 5 Australians experience symptoms of mental illness each year?

Mental illness can be debilitating and can have a devastating impact on not only those living with it, but those around them.

This October, I’m taking part in One Foot Forward to help reduce the impact of mental illness and suicide.

I'm walking to raise funds for Black Dog Institute to put ground-breaking new mental health treatment, education, and digital services into the hands of the people who need them most.

It would mean so much to me if you donated to support my walk.

Together, we can create better mental health for all Australians.

My Updates

My journey

This month I am walking for my 4th year in a row, trying to to raise funds for Mental health. My story is a sad one but it is a story that I have in common and share with many others who have gone through the same. I lost my Dad, brother, stepbrother, cousin and uncle all to mental illness. I have also struggled with mental illness most of my adult life. As an adult in my late 40’s, I feel I am finally at a point where I can manage my mental health. My family are very supportive and I know when I get in that place where I think I can’t come back from, I can go to Simon and Emma, for love and support. The difference with me compared to the loved ones I have lost, is I know how hard it is to lose a parent and a sibling and I would never put my family through that pain. It kills me to think they thought this world would be better without them. Something that is so far from the truth. Everyday I do everything I can to manage my condition. I am not ashamed to admit I take medication everyday, I exercise everyday to put myself in the best headspace possible for my day ahead and I lean on my husband and my beautiful daughter for comfort when I need. Most of all I am not afraid to ask for help when I need it. I try to immerse myself in people and things that truly heal me like my volunteer work with Kitten Kapers. I surround myself with kind, positive and like-minded people and stay away from anything that puts me in a negative head space. I communicate with my family when I am low and I just need to crawl under my rock for a while. They know eventually I will get past it and I have them to get me through it. I have learned not to be ashamed of this struggle and I believe sharing the stories of the people I have lost plus sharing my personal journey will create awareness and hopefully help anyone who may feel the same I do and hope they know they dont need to feel ashamed or embarrassed about this condition. We need to open the dialogue and be open with how we feel. We need to let others know we can all lean on each other in times of struggle. That it isn’t weak or embarrassing to ask for help. If you can I would really appreciate any donations towards this worthy cause. I am about 5 kms into my 100 km walk this month. I am going to push myself to be the very best version of myself and I know all of my family and friends are cheering me on.