Walking crusade

CRANBOURNE’S Julie Bendall is helping change lives one step at a time.
Now she is calling on the Casey community to join her in her fight against suicide at the second annual Long Walk for Life.
The event is a 10-hour walk where teams and individuals take it in turns to walk to raise awareness and money to train people in suicide intervention and prevention to save lives.
The fund-raiser will be held on Saturday 6 April from 8am to 7pm at the Cranbourne Racecourse.
The event came about after Ms Bendall walked from Adelaide to Cranbourne in 15 days in 2011 to raise awareness and funds for suicide and depression.
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.
Ms Bendall said many people asked her during that time how they could help and get involved also.
That’s when the Long Walk for Life was born, with 100 people taking part in the inaugural event last year which raised $8000.
“Money raised goes towards training people in suicide intervention and prevention,” she said.
“In just one year, we have trained 80 people.
“Money raised helps keep the costs down and we offer scholarships for people and organisations.”
Ms Bendall said she hoped this year’s event would be bigger and better.
“This year we hope that 250 people walk,” she said.
“The walk itself can be a real healing experience, just seeing people united together to make a change.
“Standing together closes the gap of feeling alone and misunderstood.
“Last year, we had an 11-year-old walking most of the day up to a 71-year-old walking part of the day.
“So this event is for anyone.”
For more information or to register for the event call Ms Bendall on 0400 667 311 or visit www.longwalkforlife.org.au.