Cycle To End The Cycle of not speaking out
Aboriginal health worker Kevin Heath wants to end the cycle of people not speaking out about their problems and has partnered with sporting clubs for the 12-hour Cycle To End The Cycle at Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club on Saturday.
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Aboriginal health worker Kevin Heath wants to end the cycle of people not speaking out about their problems.
“It’s important to speak up, it’s important to let their feelings be known. It’s okay to show emotion, to cry,” he said.
“A lot of boys around the area know the wrong emotions, they know to be angry but they don’t know it’s okay to cry.”
The Maroubra resident, his partner Samantha Martin, as well as The Bays Netball Club president Tracy Kelly and La Perouse United Junior Rugby League under 15s manager Melanie Millard have joined forces to organise the 12-hour Cycle To End The Cycle at Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club on Saturday.
The aim is to raise awareness of mental health and suicide prevention.
Residents are invited to get on a stationary exercise bike for 15 minutes between 8am and 8pm. Donations are encouraged and will support the work of R U OK? Day and The Black Dog Institute. There will also be information stalls.
“In the last 12 months we’ve had a fair number of young men take their lives in the Maroubra area,” he said.
“With me being a worker for NSW Health I work closely with young indigenous males … through some of the programs I’ve built a relationship with the boys and they start to open up about their thoughts and feelings.”
Mr Heath and Ms Martin also run the Dream Time Academy which helps young local sportspeople set goals on and off the field and reach their full potential.
He said through both of his roles and his friendship with Ms Kelly and Ms Millard they came up with the idea to run Cycle To End The Cycle.
“So we can reduce the stigma and shame around mental health and try and normalise it. This is about starting a conversation,” he said.
South Sydney Rabbitohs player Cody Walker and Australian Sevens player Maurice Longbottom are backing the event along with major sponsor Marnie Seinor of McGrath Real Estate.
Walker, who lives in Botany, will be getting on one of the bikes on the day.
He said it was an important cause he was happy to support.
“I’ve know Kev for a couple of years now, he runs the Dream Time Academy which I do a little bit of work with,” he said.
Walker said he had known quite a few people who had taken their own lives in the past two or three years, including a friend just a month ago.
“It’s the blokes that are quietest that are the most worrying … I’ve known the bloke for 10 years … on the surface he looked fine but obviously inside he was going through some stuff,” he said.
“Just coming out and talking about your issues, I think that’s the first step … I lost my mum in May and it certainly helps me by venting to friends and family.”
Longbottom, a Maroubra resident and member of the Australia’s Rugby Sevens team, said mental health was something he was really passionate about.
“I’ve worked closely with Kevin and Sam with mental health and it’s something I am really passionate about,” he said.
“I’ve lost a few people for not speaking up and tough times.”
He is supporting the event but can’t be there on the day due to the Dubai Sevens.
“People need to speak up and not bottle things up, speak to a mate, have that conversation.”
Longbottom urged the community to get behind Cycle To End The Cycle.
For more information go to Facebook page Cycle To End The Cycle.
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