Meg Chanom

Total Raised

$2,061

Total Distance

161km

Distance Goal

160km

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

I ~love~ running

First cardio l've done in ~ a year? And I was running into the wind, somehow the entire time?? Kill me haha. Mouth tastes like metal, obviously. As sad as it is to have walked a bit of a 2.7km "run", I walked a chunk (cardio fail not legs, so it should improve quickly, thank goodness!), so my average pace when I run the more distance shouldn't be quite as abysmal. And I had a lovely walk with Mahoney in the warm weather!

Still here!

I haven’t done a little update in a couple days. But, big news - thanks to every single amazing friend, loved one, kind acquaintance, not only did we meet the fundraising goal I set at the beginning ($1500) but I then increased it to $2,000 and we have since beaten that!! You’re all amazing and the support means so much to me. Truly, I’m not just saying that. Even if no one is reading this, the support in the form of donations makes me feel seen. Thank you. I appreciate it and you so much. Real talk, my two most difficult tasks when I’m depressed or getting burnt out, even if I feel okay functioning well everywhere else, are the dishes and keeping my huge yards neat. My birthday is coming up and I’m having a get together for it for the first time in years, at my house, hosting on my own. I love hosting, but it also crushes me with anxiety most of the time now because a) I worry so much about having every single detail at home perfect, even though I know it’s not necessary, because I want people to feel cosy and welcome, and b) getting everything ready, walking Mahoney pre-company, cooking, tidying, and getting myself ready gets so stressful on my own. And I don’t have a teammate to help out to be an anchor. It used to be so much fun and so easy when it was Brian and me, doing it together. Anyway, the yards have been out of control and I spent like 7 hours doing the backyard on Saturday - not even finished but green bins full. I was sad and done for the day after that, and anxious that the green bins will only be emptied the day before my party and I’ll have to finish it all then. I’ll get it done, but damn. So I didn’t walk or run on Saturday. On Sunday I tackled the pile up of dishes, which actually wasn’t too bad, to be honest. Then had a lovely day with a friend, and then hit the pavement with Mahoney in the little window of no rain. And then it started to drizzle again, but we were all good and happy with our raincoats on. And then the wind picked up and it started pouring - Mahoney was not so happy any more, so we headed home after only a very small morsel of kms. Very long story short, I’m behind on kms from where I’d like to be by now, but I’m not worried about making it up and hitting the goal by the end of the month because, der, I’m a winner. I’ll be in the city for work a couple days this week, so if it’s nice I’ll do some wandering around the city, otherwise I’ll use the treadmill at my hotel. Which is one of the most boring things I can imagine… When I was managing my weight for fights, I used to run for an hour before work every day on the treadmill, and got through it by setting the pace to 10km/h and the incline to 3, covering up the display, and watching 3 back-to-back episodes of Scrubs. I’m sure I’ll survive without Scrubs, which has not aged well, and just, y’know, get it done. X

Day 7

Distance: 5.5km Time: 1:03 Phone calls: 1 - Cass Podcast: “Night Shift” - The Binge Burnt houses we walked past: 2 Still not sleeping well and feeling pretty physically wrecked, but today’s walk went really quickly. It was nice to hear my sister’s voice - we talk often but we’ve been missing each others calls the last few. Mahoney and I stopped in at the dog park - not long after Brian died she was attacked by a dog and has been dog reactive since, so when we come by an empty dog park for her to sniff and run around, it’s a nice moment. So we ran around for a little bit and she smelled a million smells before we carried on our way. One of the burnt down houses we saw must have happened overnight or today, because we walked past yesterday day and it was still there. It also smelled recent, it was pretty strong. Mahoney stopped for a drink at Colin’s house, the neighbour we met on day 1, but he wasn’t in the yard this time.

Day 6

Distance: 5.4km Time: 1:01 Music: Turnstile - Glow On and Time & Space, Title Fight - Hyperview Birds spotted: Magpies, silver gulls, crested pigeons, superb fairy wrens, spotted doves, little ravens, blackbirds, pied cormorants, grey fantail, willy wagtails, chestnut teals, welcome swallows, new holland honey eaters, yellow breasted wattle birds So many birdies. I was wrecked all day today and really didn’t feel like it, but the walk today was so nice. Golden hour with my golden girl 💕

Day 5

Today was a bit warm for Mahoney, so I didn’t push her too far! We had a relaxed and cup-filling walk along the Geelong waterfront with my nephew. The breeze was beautiful and the water was tempestuous but such a pretty colour. I’m a little behind on distance currently, due to being pretty busy the last couple of days, hence the shorter walks, but I’ll make up for it with a big hike with friends soon. Not quite enough walking this weekend, but heaps of fun and connection with community. That’s the shit I do like 🩷

Day 2

Distance: 5.5km 
Time: 1:03 
Phone calls: 1 - Rachel 
Music: Snuggle 
Podcast: Smosh Reads Reddit Stories 
Poops from stray cats that Mahoney tried to eat: Myriad. Eww. 

 Windy as fuck. Rainy. More cute neighbour chats - another person I’ve never met, this time up on the main road. She gave Mahoney a lot of love and told me about her dog, Tig, who died four weeks ago. 

Two days and three walks in (I did an extra couple of ks last night for Mahoney’s evening walk), and two heart-to-heart chats with nice, older neighbours. It’s starting to feel like maybe there’s something extra meaningful in these little walks ❤️

Day 1

Distance: 4.95km 
Time: 55:43 
Podcast: “Voice” - RadioLab 
Birds Spotted: lots of silver gulls, new holland honeyeaters, masked lapwings, welcome swallows 
Dogs spotted: 5 
People who said “Good morning”: 3 

 For someone who notoriously doesn’t sleep enough, getting up early to go for an hour-ish walk before work sounds yuck. But I woke up and the sun was shining, which felt like a sweet bit of encouragement, especially considering the weather turned windy and rainy after we got home. 

Mahoney and I walked to the park by the water and along the cliff edge to kick start my 155km with a pretty one. On our way back, we met a neighbour who lives about a block over - an older man who always has water out that Mahoney loves to stop and drink. He shuffled over slowly from the other side of his front yard and gave her such gentle, loving pets. He talked to me about his health and repeatedly reiterated how much he would love for Mahoney and I to stop by on our walks to say hello, so that he can give her a pet. 

 It was a nice little reminder of the importance of connection and community, which are such crucial pillars of support when it comes to mental illness (but of course not the only pillars), and vital for general mental and emotional well-being. Today was a perfect start. We love our neighbours 💕

Mahoney 🩷

LFG

For myself and every time I’ve been able to put my feet on the floor in the morning, and take one more step.
For my friends who persevere and do the same.
For my family, chosen and by birth, whose faces are reasons to stay.
For my animals, who always, always keep me going.
For every friend lost.
For everyone who has lost someone.
For Brian (go Orange).

For an excuse to maybe run some of it, even though I hate distance running, because it’ll be good for me.

Let’s fucking go.

My Achievements

Thank you to my Sponsors

$240

Tim Read

Good luck Meg!

$114.35

Ruth Fawcett

You are sunshine in human form and I am forever cheering you on. I love you my Meg 🧡

$107.04

Spartan Financial

Thank you for being awesome. Regards, Sam #Scumbag_1982

$106.12

Ignora

That’s a lot of walking. x

$105

Domenica Settle

$105

Mat Rad

Always an inspiration, always a voice, always a light and incredible human! Big love always so proud of you! 👑

$105

Safety Mate Matched Contribution

$104.09

Adrian And Olivia

so much love for you 🩷

$100

Jess & Cole Freeman

Go you good thing ❤️

$69.92

Nigel Melder

$69.92

Rebecca Hamilton

You are constantly impressing me. Just, thank you. I love you.

$69

Brenton Lee

$54.95

Jelena

Get that bread (and tread)! 👏🏽❤️

$54.12

Kimberley Oxley

Compensation for running in the wind (objectively the worst). Love this xx

$54.12

Emma Barker-perez

<3

$54.12

Ben Lever

$52.92

Dave Mccarthy

Love your work legend!

$43.96

Native Circles

We are with you, each step of the way! Let’s get it Matcha babe, you’ve got this!

$43.89

Kristin Simmonds

Sending you love and hugs.

$43.60

Laura Robertson

❤️‍🔥

$43.60

Safety Mate Matched Contribution

$33.78

Laura

Go Meg Go <3

$30

Laura

You’re incredible, Meg x

$27.90

Gijs And Joey

Go get ‘em Meg!

$27.81

Tw

You’re awesome

$27.81

Matt Dwyer

$27.81

Safety Mate Matched Contribution

$23.23

Liz & Mark & Princey & Buddy & Jax & Zorro & Jasmine & Marley & Fries & Crunch & Teddy & Petal

Love you Meg!!!! Go go go!!

$22.68

James Borg

Proud to call you my friend

$22.58

Han

$22.10

Alicia Turner

♥️♥️♥️

$20

Elisha Graham

I hate running too. Love you always legend x

$12.06

Ben Gunzburg

$10

Sean Hellend

$6.13

Danielle Annetts

$6.13

Safety Mate Matched Contribution

Thank you to my supporters

$106.12

Ignora

That’s a lot of walking. x

$105

Domenica Settle

$105

Mat Rad

Always an inspiration, always a voice, always a light and incredible human! Big love always so proud of you! 👑

$105

Safety Mate Matched Contribution

$104.09

Adrian And Olivia

so much love for you 🩷

$100

Jess & Cole Freeman

Go you good thing ❤️

$69.92

Nigel Melder

$69.92

Rebecca Hamilton

You are constantly impressing me. Just, thank you. I love you.

$69

Brenton Lee

$54.95

Jelena

Get that bread (and tread)! 👏🏽❤️

$54.12

Kimberley Oxley

Compensation for running in the wind (objectively the worst). Love this xx

$54.12

Emma Barker-perez

<3

$54.12

Ben Lever

$52.92

Dave Mccarthy

Love your work legend!

$43.96

Native Circles

We are with you, each step of the way! Let’s get it Matcha babe, you’ve got this!

$43.89

Kristin Simmonds

Sending you love and hugs.

$43.60

Laura Robertson

❤️‍🔥

$43.60

Safety Mate Matched Contribution

$33.78

Laura

Go Meg Go <3

$30

Laura

You’re incredible, Meg x

$27.90

Gijs And Joey

Go get ‘em Meg!

$27.81

Tw

You’re awesome

$27.81

Matt Dwyer

$27.81

Safety Mate Matched Contribution

$23.23

Liz & Mark & Princey & Buddy & Jax & Zorro & Jasmine & Marley & Fries & Crunch & Teddy & Petal

Love you Meg!!!! Go go go!!

$22.68

James Borg

Proud to call you my friend

$22.58

Han

$22.10

Alicia Turner

♥️♥️♥️

$20

Elisha Graham

I hate running too. Love you always legend x

$12.06

Ben Gunzburg

$10

Sean Hellend

$6.13

Danielle Annetts

$6.13

Safety Mate Matched Contribution