Howlong’s Sam Robertson has walked 150kms to remind those with mental health challenges that they are not alone.
Howlong’s Sam Robertson took on a gruelling 150-kilometre walk from Howlong to Yarrawonga and back in just four days, using the personal challenge to raise awareness of mental health and remind others they are not alone.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
The Black Dog Institute’s One Foot Forward fundraiser motivated Sam to push himself further than ever before, with the challenge raising almost $2,800.
Having experienced mental health challenges in his teenage years, Sam said walking had become an important part of his own journey, helping to improve his wellbeing.
“I found that walking was a massive therapeutic thing for me, so it definitely helped my mental health,” he said.
“I just want to show people that it is okay not to be okay and people are out there to help.”
Sam has supported the One Foot Forward fundraiser since 2024, completing a smaller challenge in 2020.
While he would typically walk about 150 kilometres over a month, this year he decided to condense the distance into four days to create a greater challenge and encourage more people to engage with his message.
The preparation began with a goal to walk 1,200 kilometres throughout the year, before increasing his training during June and July with regular walks of 15 to 30 kilometres, building the endurance needed to complete the journey.
Despite the physical demands, Sam said the challenge was just as much a mental test, requiring him to keep moving when fatigue set in.
Sam’s preparation involved walking long distances to make sure he could reach his target.
“I thought if I was to cut it shorter and also set myself a challenge, it might show people that there is always something to look forward to or push yourself towards,” he said.
“Just keep getting yourself up, even though you're sore or you're not doing okay.
“Just pushing through those challenges ... at the end of the day, it gets that little bit easier as you go along.”
The fundraising response exceeded the initial $1000 target, with donations reaching about $2800 in the days following the walk.
However, he said the financial result was only one measure of success.
The response to videos shared throughout the journey was particularly meaningful, with people approaching him in Howlong and Albury to talk about the messages he had shared.
Sam said knowing his story might encourage even a handful of people to open up about their own experiences made the effort worthwhile.
“If it's hit one to 10 people and made them open their eyes and say, ‘maybe I'm not alone’, that was the biggest thing for me at the end of the day,” he said.
Sam believes his own experiences have helped him understand the importance of creating a safe environment where people can talk, without fear of being judged.
Growing up, he said, speaking openly about emotions was not always easy, but the support of his family and close friends helped him become more comfortable discussing mental health.
“When I allowed myself to open up, not just to my parents but my brothers as well, and some of my really close friends, the support I got from them didn't feel like I was being judged,” he said.
“That actually made me feel accepted and supported in a safe environment to be able to speak.”
His message is simple: no one should feel they have to face their struggles alone.
“I guess, in a sense of how I feel, and even relating it to a walk, just put one step in front of the other, day by day,” he said.
“It's okay not to be okay, and if you do want to speak up, speak up.
“Anyone in this world, it doesn't matter who you are, anyone is enough.”
