General News
27 June, 2026
Stepping out of the dark
AVOCA’s Mathew O'Donnell is preparing to walk 703,000 steps across July and August in a personal campaign to raise awareness about mental health and suicide prevention.
The challenge, titled 703K Steps of Hope: Walk Through Darkness, is inspired by the sobering statistic that one person dies by suicide every 40 seconds worldwide.
Mr O'Donnell, who has long been involved in supporting the community through Apex and other local initiatives, said the idea began while focusing on improving his own health.
"While I've been out walking, I thought, well, if I'm going to be out walking, I might as well walk for a reason,” he said.
For Mr O'Donnell, the challenge is not about fundraising or personal recognition. Instead, he hopes the journey encourages conversations around mental health and reminds people they are not alone.
"For me it's very personal,” he said.
After attending the State of Origin, Mr O'Donnell began thinking about the scale of lives lost to suicide globally.
"703,000 people is one person every 40 seconds, but that's seven MCGs worth of people."
Setting up a Facebook page titled 703K Steps of Hope: Walk Through Darkness, he hopes to share his progress and connect with others throughout the challenge.
"If it makes one person reconsider their choices, then that's an awesome result."
Recognising the widespread impact mental health challenges have on individuals and families, Mr O'Donnell believes many people have experienced struggles at some point in their lives.
"Don't get me wrong, I've suffered with the black dog myself, as well. I think everyone, at some point or another in their life will. It's attacks people in different ways. It might just be that you retreat into your shell for a few days and don't want to talk to people, or it might be that you go as far as thinking about ending your own life."
Although he hopes to complete the challenge within 30 days, he has allowed himself two months to finish the distance.
"It's not a massive task. I've given myself two months, which are the hardest months for people with mental health, July and August. People don't want to get out and do things. It's dark when you go to work, it's dark when you come home. It's all those things that don't make life enjoyable,” he said.
Mr O'Donnell also highlighted the impact of mental health challenges in regional communities.
"People in farming communities are at a high proportion of suicide and then you add to that 75 per cent of people that do commit suicide are male. It's just so sad."
Currently walking between 10 and 15 kilometres each day, Mr O'Donnell plans to organise several community walks throughout the challenge.
"I'm going to have a couple of weekend things. I might do a couple of five kilometre walks around Avoca. If people want to come along for a walk."
He also hopes to connect with local mental health advocates and encourage others to join him.
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