St Margaret’s Primary School teacher Ned Aulsebrook’s Movember fundraiser

A teacher from St Margaret’s Primary School has taken on a 300km running challenge this month to fundraise for mental health this Movember. Here’s what’s motivating him.

Grade 5 student Isla Eslick, 10, wrote to the Geelong Advertiser about her teacher, Ned Aulsebrook’s, fundraising efforts. Picture: Brad Fleet

St Margaret’s Primary School teacher Ned Aulsebrook has taken on a running challenge to show his students he has their backs.

Mr Aulsebrook is completing a Movember challenge, running 60m for every dollar donated towards his mental health fundraiser.

From an initial $1000 fundraising goal, the 28-year-old said he was now pushing $5000 raised and 300km to run.

Mr Aulsebrook said the fundraiser had “grown a bit of legs”.

“I’m running 17km a day just to keep up,” he said.

Ned Aulsebrook said students, like 10-year-old Isla, give him high fives as motivation. Picture: Brad Fleet

“During recess and lunch some kids run along with me for a stretch as long as they can.

“A lot of other students line up and give me high fives as well.”

The Armstrong Creek resident said he wanted to do what he could for the mental health cause.

He said he chose 60m as a distance for the 60 men lost to suicide every hour worldwide.

“How I explain the fundraiser to my students is I’m putting myself through the 300km so you know I have your back, other people have your back and you can reach out for help,” Mr Aulsebrook said.

“If you have sore knees, you go to the doctor, if you have bad eyes, you go to the optometrist. And if you have sadness or anxiety, you can go and see someone for that, too.

“I want to normalise that conversation for the students.”

Mr Aulsebrook said a “major inspiration” for him taking on the challenge was past students of his, particularly from last year, who had mental health battles.

He said he’s also seen other people close to him struggle.

“I’m passionate about mental health … because I’ve seen how it impacts family’s lives,” he said.

“I’m from a small town in Warrnambool … and there’s been lots of instances of sadly people taking their own lives.

“I’ve also had people in my life, my immediate family, who’ve had their own struggles.

“I want to start that conversation, and let people know they can reach out.”

Mr Aulsebrook said the whole school had rallied behind him.

He said it was “amazing” to have such strong support.

“Some parents and friends of the school put on a hot dog lunch fundraiser which was incredible and all of the funds went towards my challenge,” he said.

“There are posters up around the school, I’ve even had parents of kids that I’ve never taught come up and give me money, which is awesome.

“It’s great to have the whole community behind me.”

To donate to Ned’s fundraiser visit https://au.movember.com/mospace/14824824

Originally published as St Margaret’s Primary School teacher Ned Aulsebrook’s Movember fundraiser