Inaugural Teddy Bears’ Picnic brings community together
Fortem Australia’s Director of Business Operations, Gary Sanderfield, is taking meaningful action to shine a light on men’s mental health, joining hundreds of others in today’s 60for60 walk, a global event raising vital awareness about male suicide prevention.
The cause is deeply personal and profoundly important: 60 men lose their lives to suicide every hour around the world. To honour those lives and drive urgent change, participants walk 60 kilometres, each kilometre representing one of those men.
As of this morning, more than $322,467 has been raised nationally, reflecting both the scale of the issue and the power of collective action.
Walking for an important cause
Gary is walking the Sydney walk today, Friday 28 November, from 5am to 8pm, alongside approximately 200 participants donning bright pink shirts to spark conversation and visibility. The Sydney route starts and finishes at Maroubra Beach, travelling through key suburbs and landmarks including Anzac Parade, Kensington, Martin Place, the Sydney Opera House, Bondi and Coogee.
Sharing an update mid-walk, Gary said, ‘The walk is going well. In two and a half hours, we’ve covered Maroubra, Malabar, Anzac Parade and Kensington and are now arriving at Randwick Racecourse for a brekkie stop.’
This year’s walks, coordinated by WNOW (When No One is Watching), an organisation that provides spaces for men to connect and support one another, are taking place simultaneously across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Christchurch and New York City, highlighting the urgent global need for stronger men’s mental health support.
Gary’s involvement reflects Fortem’s strong commitment to supporting wellbeing, resilience and mental health across first responder communities and beyond.
How you can support Gary’s effort
Gary is calling on the community to get behind this important cause.‘Dig into your pockets – $5, $10, help us out… give on behalf of your fathers, brothers, cousins, any man in your life that means anything to you. It’s important stuff,’ he said.
👉 Donate and support the 60km walk here: Gary Sanderfield • WNOW 60for60 – 60km walk
