Lets Work Towards a Mentally Healthier World
*mentions of suicide*
Two and a half years ago, I, as well as many of you all, lost one of our closest friends, Jodie Ah Chong, to suicide. It’s a pain that I know many of us still confront every day. Yet, unfortunate as it is, it is also a pain that is all too familiar in this day and age. Today, suicide is the leading cause of death of 18 - 45 year olds, and, on average, 8 people take their own lives each day.
I know I often find myself feeling defeated and overwhelmed in response to the mental health crisis. I know that I need to reach out to friends and family, yet it’s a daunting and intimidating task. In reality, it comes to the fact that we, as humans, do not completely understand mental health problems, and they remain enigmatic compared to other pathologies. Unfortunately, many health professionals still neglect to acknowledge the prevalence and importance of mental health within a broader context, leading to mistreatment and disregarding of people who are reaching out for help.
That is where Black Dog Institute comes in. They are a research-based charity committed to understanding, preventing, and treating various mental illnesses, such as the one that took Jodie’s life. Black Dog provides a mix of clinical services, professional training, and laboratory research. I, as well as many of my amazing friends, appreciate and are inspired by this work.
So, me and a bunch of others who were stupid enough to agree to come, are going to be walking the full 80km Bondi to Manly coastal walk on the 9th of October. 80km in one day may seem really far, and that’s because it honestly is lmaooo. We are thus asking for your kindness and donations, with all the money donated going towards Black Dog Institute so they can continue working on the amazing research that they do.
If anyone else wants to join in for all or a section of the walk, you are more than welcome! Keep in mind we are going to start walking at 3 am.
And of course, if anyone wants to talk about anything related to Black Dog, Jodie, mental health, or life in general, my DM’s are always open.
Thank you to my Sponsors
$30
Anonymous
$15
Michelle Goodall
Thank you for raising awareness !! You’re incredible.
$10.40
Martha Mills
$100
Merrick Andreone
On ya lad
$52
Caitlin Wong
$10.40
Olivia Davanzo
Such amazing work!!
$50
Heidi Hakala
❤️
$52
Bella Cavanagh
Can’t believe I’m doing this so late, good job fam such a worthy cause 💜💜
$20.80
Jack
$104
Rita Perkons
Fully support your cause.
$31.20
Anonymous
$52
Rosie Vanderswag
So proud love you guys miss you millions 💗💗🥺
$20.80
Nataree Oudomvilay
$26
Layla Zak-volpato
$20.80
Jess Kremer
Proud of you Hugh!!💛
$105.04
Fiona Carter
Great effort Hugh x
$25
Catherine El-saiegh
Amazing cause! Good Luck xxx
$104
Grant Family
$104
Wickham Family
Good luck! We are very proud of you.
$100
James Renwick
$20.80
Liv Watkinson
So so proud of you guys 🤍🤍
$41.60
Celine Nguyen
Good luckkkk ❤️
$72.80
Noemie Ah Chong
Good luck! Thank you for doing this :)
$52
Amy Brandler
Hey Hugh, saw this on your Dad's linked in page. So sorry to hear of your loss. Sending my love to you, Clare, Margaret and Neal. Good luck!
$104
Deb Callaghan
$104
The Shannon-buddle's
Fantastic cause - wish we could join you!!
$104
Rose Callaghan
Love you you legend, so proud of you and honoured you're my best friend xxxx
$20.80
Nathaniel Wong
$20.80
Bronte Vanderfield
I love you so much
$26
Anonymous
So proud of you and everyone participating!
$114
Astrid Kowald-linsley
Good job I hope this helped you reach you goal!!!
$34.32
Ava Kowald-linsley
☺️💕💕
$52
Jodie & Siobhan Lynch
Huge effort Hugh and worthy cause. Jodie and Siobhan
$52
Harvey Brien
King shit
$10.40
Nellie O’dwyer
$20.80
Jordana Fraser
Good on you guys for raising funds and awareness
$52
Sachi Lauchlan
So proud to have a friend like you 😍
$104
Sean Corcoran
I am so proud of you and all of the other amazing students from the Class of 2018. I will be with you in spirit and hopefully in person!
$15.60
Rhiannon Williams
this is amazing!
$104
Emery
$20.80
Mackenzie Lofts
$104
Robyn And Ross Kowaldlinsley
$31.20
Zoe Downing
Proud of you for doing this!!
$31.20
Hajo Van Der Tang
$52
Dyldo
Love you king 👑 keen as to walk with this sick crew
$20
Emma
great work champ! (here from TikTok) x
$10.40
Kate Walker
$41.60
Jasmine Zhou
$30
Laura Holtheuer
This is amazing, thank you Hugh ❤️
$41.60
Ieva Perkons
This is so special. So grateful to be able to join you on this epic challenge x
$20
Izzy Anderson
$10.40
Anonymous
For my Lachy 💙 thank you
$5.20
Simone Connell
🖤🖤🖤
$10.40
Ella
This is amazing what you’re doing!
$20.80
Cameron Cassidy
✌️❤️
$31.20
Kayla Kent
$5.20
Breanne Hockley
$52
Blake Russell
$52
Lauryn Bukureshliev
Good on ya Hugh ❤️
$15.60
Anonymous
$104
Newman Family
Great cause! Good luck!
$31.20
Sophie Bailey
So amazed and so proud 💛 go team ((:
$52
Julia Newman
So incredible proud of you guys xx
$20.80
Rachel Iorfino
$208
Elizabeth Smylie
Well done Hugh So important
$20.80
Kailin Tan
$31.20
Tara Janssen
This is a great cause! ❤️ Good luck Hugh and thank you for raising awareness of mental health issues!
$52
Marie Bouiguerourène
$15.60
Ciara Moncrieff
$104
Chloe Woodward
$10.40
Miranda Read
This is super encouraging - good luck!
$10.40
Adelaide Yuill
$20.80
Annabel Ward
$20.80
Chantelle De Kock
Love this so much 👏
$160
Belinda Evans
$20.80
Michelle
Great idea for a great cause. Best of luck to you and your team!
$52
Jemma Donoghue
Huge congrats Hugh this is amazing and I’m so proud of you all for doing this xxxxxxxxx
$20.80
Kali Notaras
Thank you for what you’re doing guys ❤️
$20.80
Ingrid Holtheuer
$31.20
Kathy Zhang
I respect this so much
$31.20
Amy Hessell
Incredible work Hugh, inspiring. Sending big love 👏🏼🙌🏼
$20.80
Emily Zhang
Love this Hugh! Have a a lovely time on the walk 🥰
$52
Harrison Ayres
Good on you ❤️
$20.80
Nerissa Teh
This is amazing! Good luck with the walk ❤️
$50
Kat Stuart
$10.40
Anonymous
$104
Clare
Love you
$52
Zachary Pincini
Huge day, huge walk and huge cause - good luck!
$20.80
Izzy Built
You are an inspiration LOVE U
$20.80
Anonymous
$20.80
Anika
love you sm
$15.60
Toby Lewis
$20
Dani Zhao
$104
Erin Pacholke
Thank you for doing this and raising more awareness about mental health. Much love and support to you all and good luck for the walk!
$104
Gilmores
Great cause. Go Team Hugh x
$15.60
Pratha
This is so important! Good luck!!
$52
Lachlan Miller
$31.20
Lucy Braude
Well done and best of luck! X
$10.40
Rosie Brodie
🖤🖤🖤
$20.80
Emily Dong
thank you for speaking up about this :)
$50
Sao
This is epic Hugh! Goodluck ❤️
Love what you're doing. I'm so sorry for your loss.