One surprise from Walk1200km’s first year was the number of people who used the challenge to fundraise for charity.
Among others were Ash Flintoff, who raised $1200 for I Am Hope; Steve Tribe and his friends, who raised $20,000 for the Cancer Society; Jenny Manton, who raised money for Oxfam; and Ruth Moore, who helped SASH (Sexual Abuse Support and Healing).
Wilderness asked previous participants which other charities they supported. Among the ideas received were two that are a particularly good fit with the magazine and the Walk1200km challenge: Outward Bound and the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand. Wilderness will be donating a total of at least $1200 to these charities ($600 each) – $1 for every kilometre editor Alistair Hall walks. The hope is that other Walk1200km participants will also fundraise for them.
We spoke to both charities to find out more about their work, and what any money raised would be used for.
Shaun Robinson, Mental Health Foundation chief executive
Why should Walk1200km participants raise funds for the Mental Health Foundation?
At the foundation we aim to contribute to a society where everyone experiences positive mental health.
About half of the money we need comes from fundraising and the community. At the moment, we are able to reach about a million people a year. That spikes to two million people or more who get involved in some of our campaigns, like Pink Shirt Day.
We do a range of things, but the primary aim is to give people the encouragement, knowledge and motivation to do the things that help boost their mental wellbeing.
What will the money that participants raise go towards?
It will be going in two directions.
One will be supporting our wellbeing work in schools. We have developed a couple of programmes that build wellbeing practices into the way classrooms operate. They’ve been shown to have a massively positive impact on behaviour in the classroom, and on children’s happiness and their educational attainment.
The funding will also support our advocacy and policy work to try to influence politicians and government agencies to make really good decisions for mental health in New Zealand. It’s very important that we keep this work independent of any government funding so we can say and do the right thing.
Why is the foundation happy to be associated with Walk1200km?
I live with bipolar disorder, so I’m speaking as someone with skin in the game. The activities that I incorporate into my daily life are vital to me staying well and managing the times when I’m unwell.
Walk1200km has given many people an experience of that. The challenge incorporates many of the behaviours that boost wellbeing. Being active, connecting with the natural environment, spending time with others, having goals – those things create little doses of endorphins, oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine, hormones that promote happiness. That’s the science behind it, but intuitively we know that doing those things makes us feel good.
Whether or not it was raising money for us, we would see Walk1200km as a good thing.
How to fundraise for the Mental Health Foundation
Hamish Reid, Outward Bound school director
Why should Walk1200km participants raise funds for Outward Bound?
Our primary mission is to help people to be their best selves, and the flow-on effects of that are better communities and a better world.
We use the outdoors as a way of achieving our mission, so one of the neat by-products of our courses is that people get exposed to the wonderful natural environment we have in Aotearoa.
Some students are self-paying, but our charity’s funding is primarily through donations.
We always feel slightly hesitant to say Outward Bound is life-changing, but that’s the feedback we consistently get from people. Putting yourself into a new environment, doing something that has its challenges but is achievable, doing it with a bunch of people who can support you – it’s a powerful way of discovering what you’re capable of and just how much there is inside of you that you might not yet have found.
What will the money that participants raise go towards?
The funds will support young people who are experiencing some challenges in their life to come to an Outward Bound course. Outward Bound celebrates its 60th anniversary this year and we’d like to support 60 students aged 16–18 to come on a three-week course.
We try to bring people from different parts of the country and different backgrounds to each course because that diversity is important.
Why is Outward Bound happy to be associated with Walk1200km?
I see a strong connection between our work and the Walk1200km challenge. A key part of what makes Outward Bound courses successful is the fact that it’s a shared adventure in the outdoors. You get to share all the highs and lows of the experience with a group of people, you get to support them, they get to support you, and you deal with whatever challenges the environment throws at you.
There is a lot of power in setting a chunky goal that is not necessarily easy but will be rewarding.
The challenge has holistic benefits as well – for wellbeing, physical health and as a social thing if you’re doing it with others – and I’d really encourage people to give it a go.
How to fundraise for Outward Bound
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