From the MCG, through the Border and North East and on to Parliament House in Canberra, each step aims to lead Joey Rush towards a brighter future.
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Because Walking It Off rose out of past darkness.
Mr Rush, 29, has been treading Albury-Wodonga roads on a walk from Melbourne to Canberra that represents his own progress against depression.
“I wanted to set myself a challenge that would be demanding in one sense, but also give me some direction and a goal that would be of a positive nature at a struggling time of my life,” he said.
“The idea was to also make it as public as possible to try to educate and assist others where it may have been of benefit.”
Mr Rush, of Melbourne, left from the famous sporting ground on February 16 and yesterday could be found walking between Table Top and Bowna.
As well as family and friends at various times, he is accompanied by his dog Jonty, a border collie/kelpie just turned one.
“He’s done bits and pieces of the walk,” Mr Rush said.
“Because I have a support vehicle which is nearby, he sits in there and stays cool when it doesn’t really suit him.”
So far his quest has raised nearly $33,000 for Beyond Blue, an organisation that has helped him in the past.
Mr Rush said his battles with depression had been long and debilitating, with losing his father at 15 no doubt having an impact.
“Especially in my 20s, I struggled with my emotions and controlling the ups and downs of everyday life,” he said. “I couldn’t pinpoint anything to be honest, it was the culmination of many years of stress and building anxiety.”
Recognising his own struggle lies at the heart of his ongoing recovery.
“It’s just acknowledging it yourself that you need to put practices in place that give you benefit, because you get overwhelmed with little things,” he said.
“Just trying to regain a little bit of normality by seeing friends and that sort of basic things. Just going for a walk around the block and getting fresh air can make you feel that little bit better.”
Usually walking between 25 and 35 kilometres a day, Mr Rush has worked out stopping points but tried not to overplan his journey.
“I just had a bit of an idea and I had a bit of a time frame, and how it looked in my head last year is how it’s playing out, which is really satisfying,” he said.