Local Tradies Raise $7K And Take On 540km For Movember

Three Burdekin tradies have turned their commitment to mental health awareness into an incredible community effort by running 180km each for Movember. Austin Dewar (18), Campbell Johnson (21), and Braden Rawlins (21), who are all local apprentices, initially aimed to raise $540 but have far surpassed their expectations, collecting nearly $7,000 to date.
Speaking about the inspiration behind the challenge, Austin Dewar explained:
“Basically, my two mates and I are running 180km each for Movember to raise money for mental health awareness. Campbell brought up the idea after learning about Movember’s ‘Move for Movember’ initiative. He looked into the statistics and found out that six men a day in Australia take their own lives. Over a month, that adds up to 180— and that’s a staggering number. It really hit home for us, so we decided to take action.”
The trio initially set a modest target of $540—$180 each to symbolise the lives lost in a month. However, the community quickly rallied behind their mission. “We smashed $1,000 in the first 24 hours alone,” Austin said. “Now we’re almost at $7,000, and we’d love to hit $10,000.”
Local businesses have enthusiastically joined the cause, contributing to the fundraising effort and offering prizes for a community event scheduled for 24 November at the Queen’s Hotel in Ayr. The event will kick off at 4pm, featuring a 5km running track and a 2km walking track.
“There’ll be a barbecue, raffles with prizes like gift cards, meat trays, and even a fridge giveaway,” Austin shared. “Even if people don’t want to exercise, they can still come down and show their support.”
The support has been overwhelming for the young tradies, who are now not just raising funds but breaking down barriers around mental health.
“The biggest thing is the encouragement we’re receiving,” Austin said.
“We get messages from people saying we’re doing great, and it’s made us feel more comfortable speaking up, which is amazing. Running through town, we have people waving and beeping at us. That kind of support really keeps us going.”
Movember, a global initiative focusing on men’s health, has been instrumental in shining a light on the often-taboo subject of mental health. Austin, Campbell, and Braden are proud to contribute to this movement.
“We’ve realised how important it is to normalise conversations around mental health,” Austin said.
“If our efforts help just one person feel less alone, then it’s all worth it.”
The trio hopes their story inspires others to take small steps toward making a big impact.
“We’re just three mates who wanted to do something meaningful,” Austin said. “The community support has been unbelievable, and it’s proven to us that people really do care about this issue.”
With their event just around the corner and a lofty $10,000 target in sight, the Burdekin community has a chance to make a difference and show their support for this remarkable initiative.
To donate to their Movember campaign or learn more about the event, visit the Movember website and search for their team, “Three Blokes Running”. Together, we can make strides—literally and figuratively—towards better mental health for all.
‍

WHAT: Three Blokes Running Fundraiser
WHERE: Queen’s Hotel Ayr
WHEN: 4pm Sunday 24th November 2024

Austin Dewar, Campbell Johnson, and Braden Rawlins are running for men’s mental health. Photo Supplied

‍