Rotary Club of Kippa-ring – North Lakes and Pine Rivers Presents “Lift The Lid Walk” Sunday 15th Nov

The Rotary Clubs of Kippa-Ring North Lakes and Pine Rivers, will come together for the first time on Sunday, November 15th, 2020, to stage the inaugural, LIFT THE LID WALK for Mental Health.

With a new name and new look, the “LIFT THE LID WALK for Mental Health” will be the first in an exciting new series hosted by Australian Rotary Health (ARH) and Rotary District clubs around the country.

The original “WALK FOR MENTAL HEALTH” format was the brainchild of passionate mental health advocate Vicki Stewart, a Past President and long-time member of the Rotary Club of Mooloolaba.

“Vicki wanted to raise funds for mental illness research and the vital role it plays in understanding and treating complex mental health issues,” says Paul Robins, past President of Mooloolaba Rotary and Chairman of the Steering Committee. “She also wants to break down the barriers around mental illness so that people will be more comfortable discussing it and seeking help for their mental health problems,” he added.

“After four successful years holding the event and raising more than $35,000 for Australian Rotary Health, we are delighted to share its evolution in 2020 into the “LIFT THE LID WALK for Mental Health.

However, it is not all about the money, although we do need that for the research, at this point in time, it is so much more important to have the conversation and break down the social stigma of mental health, as it affects so many people.” said, Vicki.

The walk and talk format is deliberately not a race, but an opportunity to get locals together to raise awareness of the serious mental health issues we face in all areas of our communities, schools, homes, and workplaces.

Now more than ever, we need to break down the stigma that continues to plague our society so that people are more comfortable discussing and seeking help for their mental health issues. As the sole beneficiary, 100% of funds raised from the LIFT THE LID WALKS will support vital Australian Rotary Health research.

ARH is a national, not-for-profit organisation that funds health research and provides community education about health issues. The organisation supports work on a broad range of health problems but specialises in mental health. They are one of the largest independent funders of mental illness research over the past two decades in Australia. Funding more than $36 million in projects, ARH funded research has played a founding role in establishing vital programs such as teen Mental health First Aid (tMHFA) and Cool Kids.

Australian Rotary Health CEO, Joy Gillett OAM, said, “this is a great initiative that originated in Mooloolaba and we are so excited to see it grow. It gives the opportunity for every Rotary Club in Australia to host a community walk – to create awareness of mental health, to support Australian Rotary Health, and to raise much-needed funds for research.”

The inaugural LIFT THE LID WALK commences at 8am from Lake Eden, Northlakes. The entry fee is $30, and early bird entries before November 2nd includes a free t-shirt, with kids 15 and under walking free and dogs most welcome!

Event Manger Colleen Caruana said, “We are thrilled to be launching this wonderful initiative. We have had to make a few changes to ensure we deliver a COVID safe event for our community. We are very passionate about and early sponsorship support from our local business community has been overwhelming.”

Participant numbers are restricted to 1,000, so you need to get in early to secure your spot and bring your own water bottle on the day.

As the events commence rolling out nationally, confirmed new locations for Queensland also include Bribie Island on November 22nd, with dates still to be announced for Mackay, Rockhampton, Woolloongabba, and Cairns. Events will be supported by media partners Channel 7 and local media outlets. The new format will also feature local profiles in ambassador and MC roles, and we will be announcing our local ambassadors shortly.

To find out more about how you can get involved or register for this event, visit www.liftthelidwalk.com.au/northlakes

For more information on Australian Rotary Health, visit  https://australianrotaryhealth.org.au/