THREE Wimmera mates have raised about $16,000 for mental health support.
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Banyena’s Chad Frost, Clary Golder and Tim Inkster walked along the Wimmera-Mallee pipeline for seven days to raise money and awareness.
The journey went from Patchewollock through Lascelles, Hopetoun, Rainbow, Jeparit, Aubrey, Sheep Hills and Banyena.
The trek was 290 kilometres.
Mr Frost said they were stoked with the final tally.
“We were only aiming for $5000, but in the end it was about $15,900,” he said.
All the money raised will go to beyondblue.
Mr Frost said he hoped it was used in rural and regional areas.
The trio decided to do the walk as they had all been affected by the isolation of the bush and seen the effect depression and suicide had on communities.
“We were all touched by suicide when we were teenagers so the cause resonated with us,” he said.
“One of our friends battled depression pretty badly a few years ago.
“He was about to take his own life but on the way to do it he spoke to us.
“We started being proactive and exercising weekly together.”
Mr Frost said the walk was mostly about raising awareness of mental health issues in remote communities.
“We wanted to try break down the stigma around mental health and masculinity and actually talk,” he said.
“If it saves a life, have a cry.
“In the country as men we’ve all got bravado with us where we try to be tough and harden up. We want to break that down a bit.”
Mr Frost said they hadn’t ruled out doing another fundraiser.
“We’ve been thinking about what we can do next,” he said.