PHOTOS & VIDEOS

Instagram (@trek4youthmentalhealth)

ALWAYS SO MUCH to learn! It's been seven years since a psychologist introduced me to the term social anxiety. Turns out there is a much more fitting description of what I've dealt with since childhood - viewing myself through the lens of autism spectrum disorder supports a much more thorough understanding of myself. The list of things it explains is long - I actually think it might explain everything I've considered different about myself. That brings a lot of relief, as well as forgiveness and acceptance of myself. I'm looking forward to reshaping my future so that in my routine lifestyle I've got more to give where it matters most. MEET PATRICK, batyr's CEO. I sat down with Patrick while I visited @batyraus headquarters in Sydney to learn more about how batyr operates and the role it (and your donations) is playing in the youth mental health space. My walking adventure has been so incredibly life-affirming for me, but, of course, it's been much bigger than that, thanks to all the incredible help (from you) I've received in supporting batyr's work. While there is so much more to be done in the face of rising rates of psychological distress and mental ill health among our young people, it's important to know that there are some very hard-working people out there throwing everything they can at the challenge. And that we can all play a part in helping. WOW! AT NO point did I ever think my walk could inspire this much support for @batyraus. It's given me the greatest surprise pleasure to watch things grow from an ambitious (I thought) original target of $10,000 to a whopping total of $131,637 🎉 PART 2 OF MY chat with Skyler as part of @batyraus Giving Day celebration in Sydney. I hung out with the team all day, towards the end of which came the surprise moment the charity presented me with the framed map (seen in previous videos) depicting the route I walked across Australia. A very special day! STRUGGLING? Don't give up. No matter how hard it gets, there is always a way through it. Envision what you want...where you want to get to...the things you hope to achieve. You're on the journey to reach them, even if there are hurdles in the way. Push through them. Keep on going. You've got this! MY TIME WITH @batyraus in Sydney coincided with the charity's Giving Day fundraiser, where I was interviewed on the couch by Skyler (one of batyr's program coordinators), as part of an epic five-hour livestream, all designed to raise much-needed donations to help batyr reach more young people with their in-person education programs. The day before, I'd joined Skyler and two other batyr staff at a high school in Strathfield, where I got to see the team in action, delivering an interactive presentation to Year 11 students. After walking across Australia for the cause, it was really special to be able to connect with batyr in this way. [Couch interview part 1] HAVE A DREAM? Go for it! Seems too big? Break it down into steps. Still too daunting? Break those steps down even further until each step feels achievable. Of course you're going to feel some stress and anxiety along the way. That's a natural part of doing something new. Don't let it stop you from taking that first step (the hardest one). Then just keep on going. Great things are waiting for you to meet them! WHAT A BEAUTIFUL life this is 😍 ANOTHER ONE 🤭. UPON officially finishing the adventure by watching the sun rise beyond the "easternmost point of the mainland" sign at Cape Byron, I stayed within the vicinity of the lighthouse (with a packed lunch) for seven hours, to not only soak up the experience, but also be interviewed by @nadzlord from @7newsaustralia (in addition to the CH10 interview I posted yesterday). Together with the ABC and CH9 interviews I've posted previously, and an SBS interview I haven't posted, these opportunities mean I've enjoyed TV interviews with all five of Australia's major free-to-air channels.

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