MICHELLE Krivohlavek will take on a personal challenge of mind and body when she treks Kokoda soon.<\/p>\n
And she says a charity she is raising money for could not be more fitting.<\/p>\n
Michelle, the owner of Portside Marine Centre \u2013 Portside Bait & Tackle, is on a mission to raise $2,500 for national suicide prevention organisation R U OK?<\/p>\n
\u201cKokoda is about digging deep and pushing through and fighting within your own mind,\u201d Michelle said.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust like depression, stress, financial issues, family break ups, and fighting, even when you don\u2019t want to keep going, it\u2019s about \u2018mateship\u2019 and asking \u2018Are you OK?\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s three simple words if you\u2019re prepared to listen and help.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should be supporting our mates carrying them out of the trenches if they need it, sometimes it\u2019s just listening and caring.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michelle leaves late next month for Kokoda, where she will trek with \u201cno roads\u201d for nine days in mud and humidity.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis has always been a dream of mine to do this, it\u2019s a personal challenge of mind and body but an emotional challenge to walk where our soldiers have fought and fallen,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been six months of hiking every Sunday, finding hills and stairs where possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michelle said Kokoda was an important part of Australia\u2019s history. Kokoda was the first time that Australian security was directly threatened.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a war won by retreating and a war where soldiers were unprepared and ill equipped,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat those soldiers faced the rest of us can\u2019t even fathom.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michelle said R U OK? was about educating all Australians on suicide prevention.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe stats are an eye-opener,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we can raise funds to keep this charity educating Australians and we reduce the suicide or attempted suicide rate then it\u2019s a winner.\u201d<\/p>\n
To support Michelle\u2019s fundraising efforts, visit\u00a0 gofundme.com\/michelle-treks-kokoda-for-ruo<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MICHELLE Krivohlavek will take on a personal challenge of mind and body when she treks Kokoda soon. And she says a charity she is raising money for could not be more fitting. Michelle, the owner of Portside Marine Centre \u2013 Portside Bait & Tackle, is on a mission to raise $2,500 for national suicide prevention […]<\/p>\n