Stepping out to raise awareness on silent killer

File photo.

The silence surrounding one of the nation's biggest killers is about to get a whole lot louder, at an upcoming awareness event in Papamoa.

Snap Fitness Papamoa are hosting The Walk for Awareness Walk this weekend.

The walk is part of a six-week challenge running throughout New Zealand, says club manager Sara Duncan.

'Every time we do a challenge we fundraise at the same time and this year we are supporting the Mental Health Foundation.”

The inaugural event will be hosted on October 7. Sara says it was founded by a franchisee from Snap Fitness in Australia.

'It's been happening over there for a while and because we are supporting the foundation with our six week challenge, we thought we would come on board and do the walk too.

'This year our challenge happens to coincide nationally with the Australian event, so we've brought it over here for the first time.”

She says the event is a way of reaching out and supporting the community on an issue that needs more awareness.

'It's nice to bring the community together; mental health affects so many people and it's been kept quiet for so long.

'There's a massive stigma around talking about mental health and suicide but these are some of the biggest killers in New Zealand.

'The relationship between exercise and mental health is also something we feel is super important.

'Working in the fitness industry it's important for us to get involved from this side of things –both to spread our message and also to let people know they don't have to stay quiet, they're not alone and to help remove the stigma. It's time to give shit.”

She says mental health is an issue which is close to heart, with many of the Snap Fitness Papamoa team either struggling with issues themselves, or having seen friends or family struggling.

'One of the personal trainers on our team, Hannah, has been brave and she's spoken about the struggles she's had with mental illness and suicide attempts.”

In a video featured on the Snap Fitness Facebook page, Hannah describes how she felt ‘let down' by the health care system.

'I felt totally unsupported by people and the health system around me and I want to make a change,” says Hannah.

Another team member says she's part of it to pay remembrance to a close friend who recently committed suicide.

'And our owner has also suffered anxiety and other mental health issues, as a result of head injuries he sustained after being king hit a few years ago.”

The eight kilometre walk is a round trip, with walkers departing from the Papamoa Domain for a four kilometre walk before turning around and coming back.

The Walk for Awareness event is being held at Papamoa Domain on October 7 at 10am.

Entry is a gold coin donation, with all proceeds going to the Mental Health Foundation.

'However if people want to donate more than a gold coin we'd be super grateful,” says Sara.

Walkers can also purchase a Snap Fitness t-shirt on the day for $10.

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