Finish line supports suicide awareness

RUNNER Delaney Troon wrapped up three weeks’ worth of daily half-marathons in front of a jubilant crowd at Lake Wendouree over the weekend.

From 9 February through to Saturday 1 March, the local 18-year-old ran 21 half-marathons in as many days as part of her 21TwentyOnes campaign aimed at raising funds for non-profit Ballarat Men’s Mental Health.

Troon was inspired to pursue the initiative as a way of supporting the organisation and raising suicide awareness for the region, where the suicide rate is higher than the national average.

The event is in honour of Troon’s father Michael, who took his own life in 2012, when she was six years old.

Alongside 160 people registered to run with her and about 400 people cheering her on, Delaney’s mother and BMMH founding director Maxine was on the course to support her daughter on Saturday.

Assisting her daughter throughout the campaign, including joining in training, she said Delaney’s father would be immensely proud of her efforts.

“If Mike were there, he’d have run it with her,” she said.

“I think he’d be immensely proud. He was someone who had so much energy and effervescence that he’d tackle something like this and wanting to be right with her every step of the way.

“There were a few laps I rode where I’d be thinking of Mike and I certainly felt his presence out on the field.

“She put everything into this. It’s amazing to see her accomplish what she set out to do.”

The campaign had reached about $210,000 when Troon crossed the finish line, but since then cash from complementary fundraising efforts, including through local schools and businesses, has increased the total to about $235,000.

A walkathon and a bingo event at Hop Temple is expected to add further funds.

BMMH director Ilan Werbeloff said the 21TwentyOnes campaign has provided an incredible financial boost for the organisation to continue doing what it does.

“It’ll keep us afloat for about a year and continuing to provide services for men in need,” he said.

“Essentially, we provide three free counselling services to anyone who needs it, and just trying to cut through any bureaucracy.

“If someone needs mental health support and aren’t able to get it for whatever reason, we step in and provide those three sessions.

“We’re entirely independent so this is all through community support, donations and sponsorships.”

After a year of training for the event, Delaney is currently undertaking her Cert III and IV in fitness and plans to start chiropractic studies at Queensland University.

She’ll next put on her running shoes to take part in the London Marathon on 27 April.