The Blacktown father of two is marking Mental Health Month in October by launching a Virtual 7-Day Step Challenge. And he has set his own goal impressively high.
He explains: “For one week this October, I’m not just stepping for fitness, I am also stepping for mental wellbeing to celebrate Mental Health Month,” Chris said.
“I'll be attempting to crush a leg aching half a million steps in just one week – that's an average of 71,000 steps daily, or around 54 kilometres, which is 10 hours of walking a day for seven days in a row.”
But you don’t have to achieve such exhausting-inducing numbers.
Anyone who decides to take part in the virtual challenge can set their own goals and choose their own method of getting the job done.
“You can walk or run at any time, at your own pace, outdoors or on a treadmill,” Chris said. “It doesn't matter when, how or where, as long as you are stepping and recording your steps.
“It doesn't have to be organised exercise; you can also increase your incidental steps such as walking instead of taking the bus or going to an extra gym class.”
Chris, who is 49, said he has been active his whole life.
“But in the last 12 months I left my business to start a walk movement called Step Into Action that I would like to grow into a national charity,” he said.
“Step Into Action is a preventative mental wellbeing movement based around walking. I am building virtual walking challenges and walk festivals designed to encourage resilience and foster community as I believe these are two incredibly important components of creating long term mental wellbeing.”
Chris said the mental health crisis was growing in Australia and the statistics were alarming.
“One in five Australians aged 16-85 experience a mental illness in any given year, with anxiety and depression being the most common,” he said. “Young people are particularly vulnerable, with nearly 38.8 per cent of those aged 16-24 experiencing a mental disorder within the last year.
“Even more concerning is the fact that suicide is the leading cause of death for Australians aged 25-44. These statistics paint a terrifying picture, and my mission is to make a positive difference through the walks I do and the Step Into Action Movement.”
Chris’ own efforts have already included a 24-hour, 125km non-stop walk from Katoomba to Manly in 2023 and a 30-hour, 165km non-stop walk in Blacktown in April.
He hopes to enlist at least 200 participants in this inaugural virtual challenge with the aim of building it into 10,000 people undertaking monthly challenges within the next two years.
Registration is free and there’s no fundraising involved. You simply need to complete the seven days of stepping between October 6 and 12.
You can find out more via the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Stepintoaction1 or the website www.stepintoaction.com.au.
