Coo-ee walking for Youth Mental Health

Coo-ee - Walking for Youth Mental Health
By recreating the famous march which enlisted volunteers from the bush to join the Australian Infantry (AIF) at the start of World War 1 (WW1) Im lookingh to help Batyr raise funds in support for youth mental health.

What's the plan?

In mid-March 2021 I plan to depart Gilgandra in Western NSW and walk 520km arriving in Martin Place, Sydney for the Anzac Day dawn service. By taking the original October 1915 "Coo-ee March" route I should be out around 33 days, with many nights camping under the the stars and hopefully a few at outback pubs.

Why you may ask? Well, a couple of years ago I wrote a book set around World War 1 and featured the amazing sacrifices of my great uncles Jack and Will Jensen and Sydney Campbell who fought at Gallipoli and the Western Front and returned home with debilitating Post Traumatic Stress syndrome (PTSD). This was a crippling condition which nearly defined their post war lives.

More recently Ive been disturbed by the pain being experienced by so many of our youth as reflected in all too frequent and tragic youth suicide stories.

Im heartened by how far we have come in the last 100 years in supporting those in our community experiencing PTSD and aspire for similiar progress creating awareness to assist our at risk kids.

There as so many great agencies and not-for-profits who are leading the charge here and for my walk Im asking friends, family and supporters to consider supporting Batyr, a for-purpose, preventative mental health organisation, created and driven by young people, for young people.

...of every 30 students in Australia, seven will be dealing with a 
mental health issue, yet only two will reach out for support, 
leaving five suffering in silence. Sadly, most young people dealing 
with mental health issues do not reach out for help, largely due to 
stigma...

If you are able to support, your donation will go a long way and help Batyr reach more young Australians through their amazing and engaging programs, that smash the stigma surrounding mental ill-health and empower young people to reach out for support.

Thanks heaps for your support, Pieter