Life’s a walk – Right, Julie Bendall, pictured with her mother Faye Reardon and daughter Claire, is calling on the local community to join her for the last leg of her 15-day walk from Adelaide to Cran

By Bridget Cook
JULIE Bendall is calling on the local community to get behind her and join her for the last leg of her trek from Adelaide to Cranbourne.
Ms Bendall, 44, will arrive in her hometown of Cranbourne on Good Friday, 22 April, after a 15-day walk from one state to another, which is aimed at raising awareness about suicide and depression.
She wants the community to help bring her home and join in on her journey at either two different checkpoints – one at the corner of Greens Road and South Gippsland Highway about 12.30pm or on Thompson Road, Cranbourne, in the Good Guys car park about 3.15pm.
The walk will end at the Life Central building on Station Street in Cranbourne about 4pm and all are invited to stay for a barbecue.
Tragedy struck Ms Bendall’s family in 2000, when her brother Jeffrie Reardon committed suicide.
The tragedy inspired her to complete training into suicide intervention and prevention and lead her to run support groups for those bereaved by suicide.
Battling to continue to assist people and train others due to the cost and stigma, Ms Bendall decided to train for the long trek to help raise awareness not only within the local community, but beyond.
“I also hope to raise money to be able to continue my endeavour to help people affected by suicide,” she said.
“It’s not just helping the people of Cranbourne. I can touch people’s lives all the way.”
Ms Bendall said she hoped people from Adelaide to Cranbourne will hear her message.
“I will come to their towns if I have to and do the training at people’s agency centres,” she said.
She said the more people joined her for the last leg of the race, the more money and awareness will be raised.
“It’s strength in numbers,” she said.
“It will send a loud and clear message about how many people are affected by suicide.”
Ms Bendall is already about half way through her journey and has been walked between 50 and 63km each day.
Her nine-year-old daughter Claire has joined her for the whole trip and has been walking about 5km a day.
Her mother, Faye Reardon, has also joined her by driving the support van.
Ms Bendall has asked that the whole town join her on Good Friday.