Happy Birthday Running 4 Resilience!
Just. Keep. Moving.
Today marks the third birthday of
(R4R), a weekly run hosted by the Dock that surprisingly has become a regular fixture on many people's calendars, and a powerful force for promoting mental health and well-being in Canberra.It started when its founder Matt Breen sent an email to the Dock asking if we’d be interested in hosting a run/walk, and the group has grown to nearly 200 runners/walkers who rock up at 6pm every Wednesday to take part, then stick around for a chat and drink.
The motto of R4R is to Just. Keep. Moving. which represents its mission of encouraging people to stay active with friends to build resilience and overcome the challenges of life.
A mission that not only resonated with me during the pandemic, but also in retirement from sport, and I’m constantly blown away by how many people are getting around our shared belief that exercising with friends is the best thing you can do for physical and mental health today.
There’s been too many highlights to share here (Check out
for more) but hearing from the CEO of Mental Illness and Education ACT Heidi Prowse about how R4R has saved the lives of two people she knows is the pick for me, and has led us to set a goal of making Canberra suicide free by 2033.We know this is ambitious and we don’t exactly know how we’ll do it, but we are determined to make a difference. We hope to work closely with mental health organisations, schools, and other community groups to raise awareness about the importance of mental health, and continue providing support for those who are struggling.
We’re excited by this challenge and to do our part to make Canberra a safe and supportive place for everyone, and with your help, we know we’re more likely to achieve that goal and make a real difference in the lives of those who need it most.
I’ll be forever grateful for Breeny emailing the Dock back in 2019, and I look forward to celebrating with everyone at R4R’s birthday party at 6pm on Wednesday the 21st of December at the Dock. Food and drinks will be provided thanks to Capital Brewery who are shouting the beers, so please RSVP below.
Oh, and everyone is welcome, even if they haven’t come before.
Cheers.
How about it, 3 great years (2 for me), hundreds of kilometres along the R4R track and so many new friends! Count me in!!👌🏼
With bells on.