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Investing In Our Youth

Donate to Investing In Our Youth and help create better mental health for all. 

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Reach Our Goal

Raised

$1,714

Our Goal

$1,000

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Team Members

6

Total Raised

$1,714

Total Distance

565km

Distance Goal

440km

🌟 navigating the mental health & wellness maze: the power of discernment 🌟

This October, I’m thrilled to join the One Foot Forward Challenge, running 60 kilometers to raise awareness for mental health. This journey emphasizes the vital link between physical activity and mental well-being, reminding us that we’re not alone. The power of discernment keeps us connected to our personal wellness pursuits, essential for maintaining mental health. With the mental health and wellness industry valued at $4.5 trillion in 2024, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the flood of tips and apps. How do we find what truly supports us? As a wellness professional, I understand the balance between sharing knowledge and offering unsolicited advice. Conflicting information can lead to confusion about what’s genuinely helpful. This connects to the idea of progress over perfection. Our inner perfectionist may push us to showcase ideal wellness routines. However, seeking external validation can distract us from valuable support. Here are three tips for discerning what’s right for your mental well-being: 1. Clarify Your Goals: Define your personal goals. Are you aiming to reduce anxiety or improve your mood? Be specific about what you want. 2. Evaluate Your Choices: If you feel compelled to buy a program or app, ask: Does this align with my goals? Take time to reflect. 3. Seek Trusted Sources: Look for guidance from credible professionals or platforms that resonate with your values. Prioritize holistic, evidence-based advice tailored to your needs. Your mental wellness journey should feel authentic. Let’s empower ourselves with knowledge while practicing discernment in this fast-paced landscape. 💚✨ #OneFootForward #MentalHealth #Wellness #ChallengeAccepted #RunForMentalHealth #Discernment #ProgressOverPerfection #EmpowerYourself

Something is better than nothing

🌟 **One Foot Forward for Mental Health this October!** 🌟 Hey everyone! As I embark on this journey to raise funds and awareness for mental health, I want to give back to all who have supported me. Each day this October, I’ll share tools and insights to help you navigate the “how” of maintaining your mental and physical health. We know why mental health matters and how interconnected it is with our physical well-being. But putting that knowledge into practice can be a challenge! My goal is to provide practical tips to make these concepts actionable. Yesterday, I shared about **progress over perfection**—the idea that adaptability in our movement practices is key. Today’s focus is on: **something is better than nothing**! Take meditation, for example. Research shows that even just **10 minutes a day** can positively impact our mental health. A study by Zeidan et al. (2010) found that participants practicing mindfulness meditation for just 10 minutes daily showed significant improvements in attention, working memory, and cognitive flexibility compared to a control group (Reference: Zeidan, F., et al. (2010). "Mindfulness meditation improves cognition: Evidence of brief mental training." *Consciousness and Cognition, 19*(2), 597-605. [Link to study](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053810010000474)). Sure, meditating for 30 minutes sounds amazing, and my ego loves it! But when that expectation becomes a source of stress, it can undermine my practice. Instead of letting my inner critic take charge—“You’re not a real yogi unless you meditate for 30 minutes every day!”—I’m embracing a more realistic approach. Every little bit counts. Join me on this journey! Let’s break the stigma, raise awareness, and support one another in finding our paths to mental well-being. Even small steps can lead to significant change. Here’s to a month of growth, gratitude, and mental health! 💚✨ #OneFootForward #MentalHealthMatters #SomethingIsBetterThanNothing #BreakTheStigma

Progress over perfection

Recently, I started a new job, and it was a big change for me and my family. With this change, I found myself struggling to maintain the same daily exercise routine I had for years. For months, I tried to keep the same schedule and intensity, but I kept falling short—not hitting my goals or even showing up to work out. I tried changing the time, adjusting the days, but nothing seemed to work, and I felt like I was failing at something I had once mastered. This past week, I had a breakthrough. I realized that my "all or nothing" mindset was holding me back. I had been trying to force the same level of output that worked before, but life had changed, and I hadn’t adapted. So, I decided to approach my workouts with more intention and mindfulness, expecting less but being more present in what I was doing. Instead of aiming for perfection, I focused on consistency and quality, and to my surprise, it’s working—I’m succeeding and feeling better for it. More importantly, this shift has had a positive impact on my mental health. By letting go of the pressure to be perfect, I feel less stressed and more in tune with myself. Now, I’m back running more, feeling stronger, and achieving my goals again—specifically, raising money and awareness for One Foot Forward, a campaign dedicated to mental health support in Australia. I'm proud to be part of this cause, which helps fund programs for people struggling with mental health challenges. Every step I take is a step toward breaking the stigma and supporting those in need. Did you know that 1 in 5 Australians experience a mental health issue each year, and suicide is one of the leading causes of death in people aged 15-44? This is why campaigns like One Foot Forward are so vital. This new approach to my workouts has not only improved my mental health but also empowered me to show up better every day for all the people and spaces that matter most. If you're feeling stuck in your own life, it might be time to adjust your expectations and focus on progress, not perfection. It’s okay to do less, as long as it’s with intention.

Support Our Walk for Mental Health Research

Did you know that 1 in 5 Australians experience symptoms of mental illness each year?

In fact, every day in Australia, 9 people will die by suicide.

Mental illness can be debilitating and can have a devastating impact on not only those living with it, but those around them. 

This October, our team will be taking part in One Foot Forward to help reduce the impact of mental illness and suicide.

We’re walking to raise funds for Black Dog Institute, so that they can 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 our walk.

Together, we can create better mental health for all Australians.

Our Achievements

Thank you to our Sponsors

$148

Gina ❤️

Good luck on your adventure. To raise awareness and funds for this worthy cause in this way, takes bravery and an amazing act of compassion, for others and yourself. ♥️

$148

Ethan

$101

Facebook Donation

$101

Facebook Donation

$90

True Equanimity Yoga

$79

Aubrey Smith

Way to go!!

$70

Momzie

I'm proud of you my ❤️

$69

Sheryl Brittain

😉 good luck

$64

Anonymous

$53

Tricia Ward

$50

Townshend Family

You are amazing Nicky :)

$46

Facebook Donation

$44

Mary Benkesser

$44

Matched Contribution

$44

Margaret Lane

$42

Nicola Smith

$42

Anonymous

Cheering for you xx Shamara

$42

Robyn Benkesser

$40

Raine Torrisi

$36

Facebook Donation

$33

Anonymous

$33

Janine

$32

Michelle Oldham

Love you post and you opening up about how youre going,but sorry to hear you've been depressed. As you know, walking in nature is one of the best things we can do for our mental health, I hope you feel better soon. Also really appreciate you taking on this challenge every year, thanks. Enjoy your walks!! xo

$28

Tricia Ward

$26

Janine Charles

$25

Facebook Donation

$23

Wendy Garner

Fantastic cause Lady! I'm sure you'll smash your target You are awesome!

$23

Julia Bell

$23

Libby French

Happy Walking!

$23

Libby French

Happy Walking!

$21

Simone

Go Nicky, go!! 💜💙💜

$21

Natalie Broun

Go for Gold, Nicky. X

$21

Facebook Donation

$11

Bella Patricia

Sharing the love and sending a little encouragement for your cause

$11

Wiktoria Sowinska

$5

Ttaschia Wenzel

Sharing the love and sending a little encouragement for your cause

$5

Nicola Smith

Wishing you well my fellow walker, especially as we share the same name :)

Our Team Members