The PDR will become a sea of fluro tutus when walkers take on the 11th Conquer the Corrugations in support of mental health in early October. Photo: Chisa Hasegawa.
When life feels like a vast sea at night, this year’s Conquer the Corrugations encourages walkers to be the lighthouse that signifies hope and safety in the dark.
With just over two weeks to go until the 11th annual mental health walk on 4-5 October, co-founder Emma Jackson spoke to Cape York Weekly about this year’s theme, Be the Light.
“The idea is, basically, be that light, be that beacon of hope, and just sending that message that we can all be a shining light for somebody, we can all help somebody, and we can light the way,” she said.
“We’re going to embed sort of a lighthouse, nautical, navigation theme in the content and some of the conversations.
“On the Sunday night, we’ve got a glow wild and light up party, so when people come and sign in, they’ll get a goodie bag with lots of fluro and glowsticks to help them dress up.”
Ms Jackson said there would be 17 mental health professionals present at the event across the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Queensland Health, Lifeline, StandBy and 13YARN, and with all participants having been affected by suicide or mental health in some way, it would be a safe space for people to open up.
She added the walk was especially good for including those who were not typically a part of the mental health conversation, like men, and helping them embed it into everyday life, like one business owner who made a change in the workplace after becoming a Conqueror.
“There’s men who’ve attended many of the walks, and I sometimes pick on them when they’ve been to a few, and ask them to make a speech,” Mrs Jackson said.
“He was really honest, and said, ‘I didn’t really understand mental health challenges, I didn’t really have much time for it, but now, in the workplace, we’ve implemented mental health days, we bring in conversations, we have well-being chats, and we’re really trying to put it through the whole company’.”
With registrations open until the event begins, Ms Jackson encouraged anyone wanting to get involved but facing barriers to reach out.
“If there’s anything that could be holding someone back from registering, pop us an email and reach out,” she said.
“If somebody reaches out and says they don’t have any bedding, they don’t have any camping gear, or they need transport or food, we can make all of that happen.”
