Man walks from Sydney to Queensland to raise money for Lifeline after wife’s tragic death

MARCO Mangano started walking to clear his head of depression after his wife took her own life. This later led him to walk all the way from Sydney to Queensland. He now has his sight set on Victoria.

Marco Mangano

FOR Marco Mangano, surviving the horrific aftermath of his wife’s suicide came down to two simple things: walking his dog Shadow and finding someone to talk to.

The 40-year-old podiatrist from Concord, who lost wife Jacqui in 2011 after she fought a long battle with mental illness, found himself desperately struggling to deal with the loss of a loved one without the consoling assistance of family and friends to ease his grief.

“For months upon months I was completely out of it,” Mr Mangano said.

“I don’t have any family and it was hard to talk to people — mental illness is hidden away and a lot of people don’t recognise it as the illness that it is, and that is the biggest problem.

“One thing that helped me with my grief was calling Lifeline.

“That was a pretty tough time and you have to get on the phone when you feel down.”

On their advice, Mr Mangano started to exercise, walking his dog for some fresh air and to clear his head.

Last year, he decided to go one step further and began planning a walking trip from Sydney to Queensland to raise funds for Lifeline.

He started his epic trek last September walking 897km in 30 days — raising $20,000 for Lifeline in the process.

“Lifeline and walking my dog was what got me through — I lost Jacqui and the only thought that went through my head was that I had to look after our dog Shadow,” he said.

Marco Mangano has been nominated for a Pride of Australia Community Spirit Medal.

“It was a toss up between antidepressants and walking, so I chose walking.”

His walk was so successful, that next year Mr Mangano will walk from Sydney to Victoria. He has also started walking groups for people who need companionship, like he did.

His Movinon walking group meets every second Sunday a stroll, a cup of coffee and a chat, with the goal of promoting neighbourhood camaraderie to decrease social isolation.

This year The Sunday Telegraph launched an important education campaign to break the stigma attached to suicide and mental health, to get people talking and stop the tragic loss affecting too many Australians.

Mr Mangano’s strength to grow through his heartbreak has earned him a Pride of Australia nomination for Community Spirit, a News Corp program proudly supported by ClubsNSW.

“I am always pretty stoked when something like this is recognised, but more so because it will get people talking about this,” Mr Mangano said.

“There is still so much stigma attached to it and we need to talk more — too many people suffer in silence.

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“What I’m doing may be helping other people, but it’s also helping me.”

To nominate someone you know for Pride of Australia, visit prideofaustralia.com.au until July 19.

The 40-year-old podiatrist from Concord, who lost wife Jacqui in 2011 after she fought a long battle with mental illness, found himself struggling to cope.

On the advice of Lifeline he began walking his dog to clear his head. Last year, he walked from Sydney to Queensland raising $20,000 for Lifeline. Next year he will walk from Sydney to Victoria.

Mr Mangano has also started walking groups for people needing companionship.

His strength to grow through his heartbreak has earned him a Pride of Australia nomination for Community Spirit, a News Corp program proudly supported by ClubsNSW.

NOMINATE SOMEONE FOR THE PRIDE OF AUSTRALIA MEDAL HERE.