‘Medicine of connection’ behind 21 half-marathons

RUNNER Delaney Troon will complete twenty-one half marathons at Lake Wendouree in twenty-one days from next month in support of Ballarat Men’s Mental Health.

Having lost her father Michael to suicide in 2012, Troon’s aim with the 21TwentyOnes campaign is to honour him, boost community awareness of what BMMH does, the services they offer, and to raise money to get those services to more people in Ballarat that need them.

Troon has also been compelled to take action because four people in Ballarat in her school year took their own lives within six months.

Her mother, Maxine Troon is one of BMMH’s co-founders who launched the organisation having been concerned about Ballarat’s “alarming” suicide statistics, which are higher than the national average.

“We felt Ballarat was not being serviced properly and that something needed to be done,” she said.

“We have a counselling service which has grown to 14 counsellors that consult to us, and a social worker, so we’re able to offer a fairly quick service to people.

“The big thing for people who are struggling with their mental health is accessing services in an efficient way.

“Within a week to 10 days, a socialworker will be in touch with the client who has reached out and link them to the most appropriate counsellor, whether they’re struggling with things like relationship problems, business problems, financial problems… They will be resourced in the most appropriate manner.”

Troon will be running from 6am every morning for 21 days, from Sunday 9 February, near Windmill Drive, and doing about three and a half laps of the lake.

 

Every half an hour to 40 minutes, she will be back at the starting point to pick up other walkers or runners until the laps are finished. Anyone is welcome to step out with her for all or some of they way to show their support.

“It’s about that medicine of connection, turning up and being there for people,” Ms Troon said.

Board member Ilan Werbeloff said BMMH staff have reached out to 175 community organisations so far to try and get them to join the cause.

“One of our points of difference is that everything stays in Ballarat. We’re trying to address a problem that’s specific to the region, so it’s important to us that the funds stay local,” he said.

“Delaney’s run is also an endurance thing, it’s not a speed thing, reflective of the cause we’re trying to address.

“It takes time, patience, will power and commitment.”Ballarat Men’s Mental Health receives no government funding, and doesn’t have a physical building, delivering services via telehealth.

Visit bit.ly/3DER7s7 to back 21TwentyOnes. Haymes Paints is a major sponsor and is set to produce a paint colour called Delaney’s Run.

If you or someone you know needs mental health support, visitballaratmmh.com.au. There’s also Beyond Blue at beyondblue.org.au or 1300 22 4636. You can also visit lifeline.org.au or call them on 13 11 14. Help for young people is available at kidshelpline.com.au or by calling them on 1800 55 1800.