Kobie Rose Palmer

Support My Walk for Mental Health Research

🧡 Why I’m putting One Foot Forward

This challenge is incredibly personal to me.

I’m not walking simply to raise awareness for mental health. I’m walking because I know what it is like to struggle with my own.

I’ve experienced periods where my mental health has completely changed the way I feel, think and move through the world. I know what it’s like to have days where simply getting through the day takes more strength than anyone around you could possibly see.

I’ve experienced the fear, exhaustion and isolation that can come with struggling mentally. I’ve had moments where I haven’t recognised the person I’ve become, and I’ve had to slowly learn how to find pieces of myself again.

But through everything, I’ve kept going.

For me, walking has become so much more than exercise. There is something about putting my shoes on, getting outside and moving that reminds me that even when life feels overwhelming, I can still take another step.

That’s why One Foot Forward means so much to me.

I’m doing this for everyone who has ever fought a battle inside their own mind while appearing completely fine to the rest of the world. For the people who are struggling right now, for those rebuilding themselves, and for the people who love and support them through it.

And I’m doing it for me.

I’m proud of how far I’ve come, while also knowing that mental health isn’t always a straight road. There are good days, hard days and days where putting one foot in front of the other really is enough.

My goal is to raise $600 for the Black Dog Institute, helping support mental health research and giving hope to Australians experiencing mental illness.

If sharing a little piece of my own experience makes even one person feel less alone, then being vulnerable enough to share it is worth it.

This October, every kilometre will mean something.

For the battles people see.

For the ones they don’t.

For the person I was, the person I am, and the person I’m still becoming. 🧡

One day. One step. One foot forward.