10ks in Gumboots

In March 2022, my little brother took his own life. He was only 19.

This has had a profound effect on my family and the way we view mental health and the importance of taking care of our top two inches. It goes without saying that we never want another family to go through the inconsolable grief that we have experienced.

As I watch my four children grow, I want to make sure I’m doing all I can to prioritise their mental wellness and to teach them there’s always hope, there’s nothing that can’t be fixed. Free counselling for 5-25year olds is a necessary initiative in creating a space for our rangatahi to turn to if they ever feel the need - a ‘conversation’ instead of a ‘crisis intervention’.

So instead of chucking on my Nike’s for my scheduled 10km run this Friday, I’m opting for the size 6 women’s red bands. I love running but I don’t know how enjoyable it’ll be with the heavy rubber weighing me down. I guess it’s just like those hard times, when mentally we feel weighed down and it’s hard to find the enjoyment in the things we love the most.

Hopefully I can raise a few bucks for this amazing charity. Every bit helps right?

I’m a mum, an aunty, friend and teacher and I’ll be running for all of the beautiful young people I encounter each day. And I’ll also be running for Jacko 💙