Watsons walking for a bloke

A TORQUAY father and son will be putting one foot in front of the other next month to honour the life of a dearly missed loved one.

Tim and Ollie Watson will be participating in the Spoke to a Bloke Walk for a Bloke event in Melbourne on March 22.

The event will bring together men from all over the country for a 25-kilometre walk to raise awareness and funds for blokes’ mental health.

The Watson family lost their son/brother just over a year ago due to a battle with mental illness.

Each day on average, nine men in Australia die from mental health-related causes.

 

Tim Watson said participating in the walk will help to continue getting more men talking about their feelings.

“It’s something which came up on my Facebook page really and Ollie and I thought we’d join them,” he said.

“It’s about igniting the conversations and blokes having a chat about mental health.

“While the walk is just for men, wives and girlfriends are also welcome as support and volunteers.”

The Watson family has already raised more than $500 for the cause, double their intended target.

 

“It [men’s mental health] is just so prevalent and I think its resonating with men now,” Mr Watson said.

“We’ve seen in the last few weeks a couple of footballers pass away. Losing nine men a day is too much. We just need to get on top of it somehow.

“Being involved in something like this is a great way to help ignite that conversation.”

To donate to the Watson family’s mission, head to give.spoketoabloke.org/fundraisers/timwatson2173/walk-for-a-bloke-melbourne25 .