Australia’s leading not-for-profit mental health organisation, Mental Awareness Foundation, supports mental health services and charities across the country, doing so through fundraisers and events. Their biggest initiative is Walk For Awareness, which has over the years become Australia’s largest mental health walk.
Held in Brisbane annually during Queensland Mental Health Week, the event takes place by the Brisbane River, where participants walk 9km together along a designated route.
The initiative not only raises awareness for mental health, but also much-needed funds for registered mental health charities. This year’s charities include The Sunlight Centre, which provides support through counselling.
Walk For Awareness is returning for its twelfth year on October 9, 2022.
On the day, you can expect a slew of entertainment (it certainly doesn’t end with the walk). This includes live music, stilt walkers — even our local coffee roasters Bellissimo are jumping on board to provide your hit of caffeine with their exclusive TAKETIME blend. All the proceeds from the coffee sales will go to the Mental Awareness Foundation too.
“In 2021, we had more than 2,600 registered walkers participate in our event nationally, with 500 participating virtually, raising more than $170,000 to support mental health,” said Wesley Vasile, founder of the Mental Awareness Foundation. “Over the past two years, many people have endured sickness, loss, isolation and loneliness, there’s never been a more crucial time to bring people together and use the walk as an opportunity to initiate conversations with friends and family about mental health.”
All participants receive a Walk For Awareness T-shirt, and you don’t even need to attend the actual walk to participate. If you’d prefer to do a walk in your local neighbourhood, that’s totally fine.
You can register here.
Practical information
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