Walk with me Aotearoa

Hi, my name is Jess and, like everyone else out there, I have a story. A sad story but one that has a happy ending. I won't go into details about this story because it's not mine to tell. All that needs to be said is yes my family has been affected by a serious mental illness. Yes, we came close to losing someone we love. And yes our struggle has been real, and painful. But I want to make a difference so other young New Zealanders don't have to struggle and wait to receive help when they desperately need it.

Between July 2017 and June 2018, 668 New Zealander's commited suicide and added to the horrific New Zealand statistics, which are only increasing. This campaign I've organised is dedicated to my family, all those who are struggling today and all those who haven't survived their mental health battle. I want to speak out for you, address this crisis and hopefully initiate change that will see your desperate pleas for help be answered.

On October the 1st 2018 I will be walking from my home in Christchurch to The Beehive in Wellington with my two sons aged 6 and 11. I will make the 12 day journey by foot and on my bike where the roads are too dangerous to walk. My plea when we arrive into Wellington is please, you know the statistics so it's time to listen to those suffering and its time to respond. We need to help them today, not next year, not after the next budget is released, not once a hospital or two has been built, but now, because children, teenagers and adults are dying at a rapid rate of almost two a day. Every day we leave this another innocent person could die.

While I'm walking please donate to this cause. The money raised will go directly towards STAND, a nationwide service which is trying to help as many young kiwi kids as possible now to improve the outcome of their life in the future. They too have a waiting list because there are just too many struggling children in this country so please help me, and help them.

I'd like to thank my sponsors who have helped me make this possible:-

BMW

Thule

Mac pac

Lululemon

Gooses

Evocycles

Protranz

RD1

Sportsmed

St John

Stand

Without your generosity this venture wouldn't be possible.

Please follow my Facebook page for up to date posts during the walk.

https://www.facebook.com/walkwithmeNZ/?modal=admin_todo_tour