Mates Matter’s Craig Bulloch with Studio Move owners Tania and Shiana McKay at the April 17 fundraiser.
Mates Matter Charitable Trust founder Craig Bulloch was delighted with the response to his ‘654 Challenge’ fundraiser in Cambridge.
The event, held at Studio Move in Carters Flat, saw around 40 people go through their paces across 10 stations to help increase awareness around mental wellness and raise funds that will help Craig launch suicide prevention programmes at Cambridge Community House.
So-called in recognition of the 654 people who suicided nationally last year, the challenge was supported by Studio Move owners Tania and Shiana McKay, Body Performance Clinic and Shots Coffee Cart.
Craig said it raised around $500.
“That was amazing, but for us, it was about much more than that. It was about letting people know that we are here for everyone to build life-supporting communities,” he said. “Our next step is to run a pilot with the team at Cambridge Community House, and then roll out Matestalk in June.”
Craig established Mates Matter earlier this year to promote mental wellness and combat suicide. He has partnered with A-OK.NZ, the national provider of suicide prevention training; organising ‘The 654 Challenge’ was a first step towards delivering the programme throughout the Waikato.
“The matestalk is general awareness training around the scope of the issue in New Zealand, and the Waikato, and gives general awareness around suicide and how to broach the subject,” he said. “It also talks about the other programmes that we will be offering as well. I was humbled by the 40 or so people who turned up. The day was amazing … this is just the start of something pretty special.”
More information is from the Mates Matter Charitable Trust Facebook page, or from Craig at matesmatternz@gmail.com.
