Our Community Ambassadors in Brisbane this year are strong advocates for walking for mental health and are both devoted supporters of Coastrek and Beyond Blue and the amazing work they do around Australia.
Returning for her second year to take on the 60km event, Community Ambassador Peta O’Brien is a dedicated Coastrekker and advocate for Beyond Blue.
After experiencing the loss of her sister in a tragic accident in 2020, Peta found training and participating in Coastrek was a great focus to help her through the grief of losing a beloved family member. In the process she fell in love with trekking and proactively shared her tips and walking trails with our online communities.
Peta also reached out to Beyond Blue when she needed support at the time and was so grateful for their help that she is committed to paying it forward. She explains:
“My aim is to raise as much awareness and funds to help support Beyond Blue and keep up with demand for its 24/7 Support Service. Beyond Blue helps so many people that have been in my shoes or have suffered some form of loss that leads to anxiety, grief, depression and suicidal thoughts. It can take you to a dark place and I’m grateful to Beyond Blue for helping me at my lowest point.”
Peta will be stepping out with her team Pottering Along – so named in honour of her sister Toni Louise Potter - look out for her on the trail.
“Training for Coastrek was a huge help in getting through my grief as it gave me a focus and a goal to work towards while supporting a cause I was passionate about. I tell everyone I can about Coastrek and how great it is to get into an exercise routine and get walking with a bunch of friends. If 60km is too daunting start with 30km challenge – event day is awesome and it’s such a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction knowing you’re giving back to a great cause”- Peta.
Abbe Anderson knows all about the holistic benefits of Coastrek. "I joined Coastrek to lose weight, get fit and gain strength following a knee injury. For me, working toward the goal of Coastrek was the motivation I needed to stick with a regular training routine, expertly developed by the team at Wild Women on Top."
Abbe works as a Strategic Policy Advisor for the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health and is passionate about the delivery of comprehensive primary health care services to the Indigenous community of South East Queensland – Australia’s second largest Indigenous population. Abbe also serves as a Beyond Blue board member and is a strong advocate for Coastrek’s positive impact on mental health.
“The health impacts of Coastrek are significant – the sense of community and support have an enormous impact on mental health and wellbeing. There is such a buzz of positivity, fun and friendship on the day. It also felt good to know the funds my team raised would contribute toward the vital work of Beyond Blue in supporting the mental health of the community. I am so pleased to be back again for Coastrek 2022!”
