A host of Sunshine Coast men are ready to take part in a 60km, 14-hour walk to raise awareness about mental health and suicide prevention.
The walk, organised by men’s wellbeing charity WNOW (When No One’s Watching), represents the 60 men lost to suicide globally every hour.
Local participants will join others walking simultaneously in Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, New York and Ireland, raising funds to create free groups for men to connect in supportive environments and combat the growing loneliness epidemic.
WNOW Coolum chapter leader Ultan O’Dwyer said the walk, to be held on Friday, November 29, represented more than just physical endurance.
“Every step taken is in remembrance of those we’ve lost and in hope for those we can help through connection and community support,” he said.
The walk will start at Peregian Beach at 3am and finish at Peregian Beach at roughly 4pm, with participants walking through Peregian Beach, Coolum Beach, the base of Mount Coolum, Stumers Creek and Emu Mountain to Noosa Main Beach, Noosa National Park and back to Peregian Beach.
WNOW, founded in 2021, has grown to become a vital force in men’s wellbeing, with more than 1400 members across 40 chapters worldwide.
The organisation’s signature Sunrise Club meetings provide a safe space for men to connect, exercise and share any challenges they are facing, every Wednesday at 6am.
“With 75 per cent of Australian suicides being male, the need for community-based support has never been more crucial,” Mr O’Dwyer said.
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“This walk not only raises awareness but also funds to help WNOW expand its reach to more communities in need.
“While we’re not a crisis service, our proactive approach to engagement and peer support helps men build resilience before reaching crisis point.
WNOW co-founder and former Sydney Swans player Tadhg Kennelly said the group was determined to support men.
“We are creating a community where men are proud to be men: comfortable to take their ‘armour’ off and be their authentic selves, feeling supported and safe in a community of like-minded men,” he said.
“A community where men explore in a fun way what it means to be a better man, tackling challenges together and focusing on improving their mental, physical, and emotional health to be the best role model they can be for themselves and all those around them.”
For more information, see WNOW 60km Walk.
