A BRUNSWICK West mum’s own struggles as a teenager is the inspiration for a local fun run to raise money for youth mental health services.
The Run 4 Fun around Princes Park on September 10 combines personal trainer Kate Mackie’s two passions of fitness and mental health.
Ms Mackie credits physical exercise and outdoor activity with dragging her out of “a dark place” after a decade-long battle with anxiety that began in her mid-teens.
Having now built a successful outdoor personal training business, Run It By Kate, she wants to lend her support to youth service headspace to help prevent adolescents from going down the same path she found herself on.
Ms Mackie, 40, said she grew up in a supportive and stable household but turned to alcohol and drugs to deal with crippling anxiety when she was a teenager.
“Being an only child growing up, it was really hard for me to make friends,” she said.
“When I had to be in an in group environment, I used to get anxious really, really quickly. So definitely dealing with marijuana and alcohol, I felt like I built that confidence in myself.
“I was like, ‘Oh, wow, this is what I can do to actually make myself feel better’, which is the actual wrong way.”
Ms Mackie had her first child when she was 18, which also caused challenges.
Eventually she found a way out of her own mental health issues through sheer willpower after resuming sport and exercise, but she said it would have been easier if there had been a youth mental health service like headspace when she was a teenager.
“Growing up, I always did some form of sport, I was into athletics and used to represent my school and represented Victoria as well in sprints, but when I turned 16 I just went down, you know, hanging out with the wrong people.
“But definitely getting back into it [exercise] in my mid-20s, that completely flipped my whole lifestyle … I’m still the same Kate but definitely a more positive person than what I probably was back then.”
Ms Mackie hosted her first fun run last year and is hoping for at least 100 participants on September 10. Ms Mackie is aiming to raise $5000 in total.
There are three routes available around Princes Park – a 3km walk and 5km or 10km runs – with tickets priced accordingly.
The beneficiary of all funds raised is headspace Knox, and donations are also accepted from people unable to participate in the walk or run on the day.
“headspace is just something that’s quite close to me,” Ms Mackie said.
“I have two daughters, aged 21 and 23, and two stepsons, and I just know how they sometimes don’t want to be speaking to their parents [about mental health issues].
“headspace don’t judge, they do this all the time and are a safe space for you to share how you are feeling and going in your life.”
To find out more about the fun run, visit the official website.
A BRUNSWICK West mum’s own struggles as a teenager is the inspiration for a local fun run to raise money for youth mental health services.
The Run 4 Fun around Princes Park on September 10 combines personal trainer Kate Mackie’s two passions of fitness and mental health.
Ms Mackie credits physical exercise and outdoor activity with dragging her out of “a dark place” after a decade-long battle with anxiety that began in her mid-teens.
Having now built a successful outdoor personal training business, Run It By Kate, she wants to lend her support to youth service headspace to help prevent adolescents from going down the same path she found herself on.
Ms Mackie, 40, said she grew up in a supportive and stable household but turned to alcohol and drugs to deal with crippling anxiety when she was a teenager.
“Being an only child growing up, it was really hard for me to make friends,” she said.
“When I had to be in an in group environment, I used to get anxious really, really quickly. So definitely dealing with marijuana and alcohol, I felt like I built that confidence in myself.
“I was like, ‘Oh, wow, this is what I can do to actually make myself feel better’, which is the actual wrong way.”
Ms Mackie had her first child when she was 18, which also caused challenges.
Eventually she found a way out of her own mental health issues through sheer willpower after resuming sport and exercise, but she said it would have been easier if there had been a youth mental health service like headspace when she was a teenager.
“Growing up, I always did some form of sport, I was into athletics and used to represent my school and represented Victoria as well in sprints, but when I turned 16 I just went down, you know, hanging out with the wrong people.
“But definitely getting back into it [exercise] in my mid-20s, that completely flipped my whole lifestyle … I’m still the same Kate but definitely a more positive person than what I probably was back then.”
Ms Mackie hosted her first fun run last year and is hoping for at least 100 participants on September 10. Ms Mackie is aiming to raise $5000 in total.
There are three routes available around Princes Park – a 3km walk and 5km or 10km runs – with tickets priced accordingly.
The beneficiary of all funds raised is headspace Knox, and donations are also accepted from people unable to participate in the walk or run on the day.
“headspace is just something that’s quite close to me,” Ms Mackie said.
“I have two daughters, aged 21 and 23, and two stepsons, and I just know how they sometimes don’t want to be speaking to their parents [about mental health issues].
“headspace don’t judge, they do this all the time and are a safe space for you to share how you are feeling and going in your life.”
To find out more about the fun run, visit the official website.