March On Challenge

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Total amount

Team
Member

35

Funds
Raised

$31,476

Distance
Achieved

3276.55km

Distance
Goal

4537km

Even on the hard days, 4 u lochie xo

I am entering my last week of Soldier On's March On Challenge. I have 100kms to go which normally to me is not much. I am going to have to dig deep from somewhere though....and I will....when I work out how. I started with so much purpose and direction and now I am feeling lost. You see on January 27th this year Lochie Cross, a serving member of our Navy, my 20 year old son, took his own life. It has not even been 2 months. It has felt like a million years. For the past 4 years I participated in March On. A challenge that raises funds and awareness to the efforts of Soldier On. Soldier on provides support to ex serving military in their transition from service. It is the mental injury that is often the most debilitating and statistically results in poor adjustment to civilian life, family break down and disproportionate rates of suicide. To look at, Lochie was fit and strong. He was young and vibrant. He was your mate standing beside you having a beer 🍺. You could not see his injury by looking at him. But it was there. Mental injury is as real as any. We cannot take a blood test or xray to assess it and quantify it. But it is there. And if left alone in the darkness, unspoken about, untreated it can result in the loss of a life. That's blunt but it is true. And for loved ones left behind after a death like this it feels like a tsunami. As a mum I have never felt pain like this. Even at the birth of this child - a twin - the pain was not like this. I'd have that back and live that for eternity- if I had a choice. But I don't. So I have poured my hurt into March On. I don't want another family to feel this pain. I don't want another young vibrant person with everything to give to the world to give up on themselves. Because they are valued. They are loved. They are needed and wanted. There is help out there for people. There are many charities but Soldier On is one of the good ones. It has provided consultation to assist in our royal commission on suicide rates of our military. It provides psychological assistance, peer support to people that have received an invisible injury from a job they do. Big deal you may say - we all experience hardship at work - but there are groups of people in our community that serve and protect our way of life in a way that a wage can never compensate for. Our military is one of these groups. In this last week of March On - you can, please, find it in yourself.... Be kind to a complete stranger. Be kind to yourself. Let the people in your life know that they are loved. That they belong. Remember that you are loved and are important to so many people. Help someone you know who is struggling to seek professional help. Make that appointment you've been putting off to talk about your struggles. Talk about the hard things. Air them out in the light of day. Together we are stronger Together as a community we will find a way to ensure no one is left behind. Xo Anne https://www.marchonchallenge.org.au/fundraisers/2Dads If you can donate please do...but mostly please look after the person next to you and yourself xo

Half-way team 2dads

Day 15 and we are at our half-way march in terms of days. Today Tess helped me manage my half-way of kilometer goal with a 15km walk. It's been a hard week for my headspace: I have felt the numbness of Lochie's death, the disbelief that he has gone lift. The strength that I had, shifted from beneath me. The pain descended and it feels as real as any physical pain. I have been searching for reasons and answers when there are none. I have cried and retreated. Lying in my bed, too broken to do anything. Released temporarily from this world by sleep. I grew up at the beach and swam endlessly in the surf - the analogy to my feelings at the moment is drawn from this childhood experience: I have no choice but to let this wave crash over me, to wash over me, to hold my breath as I am pulled down into the turbulence of the water - at its mercy- for as long as it wants to hold me down. I am not afraid. I can do this, knowing that when I come up again, and take a breath of fresh air, that you will all still be standing there, on the beach, with smiles and arms open wide. Waiting for me. I am a person who seeks solice in quiet and solo pursuits. I have come to realise (thanks to my Graham) that the comfort of people is just as important. There is a balance that I search for, we are on this planet together all with our own unique pain and struggles. "We are all walking each other home" I have been so grateful for the love I have felt. For people's acceptance. For the knowledge that in a real sense, I am "OK" I will be ok. It is very hard to know how to comfort someone when their pain is theirs alone. People's efforts have not gone unnoticed or unappreciated. Thank you to my team members and my Partner Graham, to Lochie's brother and sisters for continuing support me and this effort. THANK YOU to our amazing donors ❤️🙏 for your faith in us and the real gift that I hope will change one person's life. Thank you for letting our defence personnel know that they matter❤️ x Anne

Jumping back in

Getting back on board with an early morning walk before sunset. A nice chill in the air with the beautiful sound of so many birds getting started with their day

Over half way - thanks for your support

Thank you for all your support. Big shout out to Keanu, Robin and Carl for your donations. I now have passed the halfway point and have 40kms to go.

First walk after two-day break.

This morning’s sunrise did not disappoint. Legs a bit sore after a break, but very happy to start walking again after a quick overnight visit to Noosa for my niece’s wedding. shout out to Rosie and Cam who showed so much resilience and positivity to have their special day in spite of Alfred.

Week 2 momentum

Team 2Dads enters its second week of the March On Challenge. We are joined by Lochie's Final Serving CO and his supportive family. It is testament to the way defence personnel wrap their arms of support around their "family" . We have other serving members and forever colleagues of Lochie's also. The non service members of the team want you to all know that in memory of Lochie - we are doing this for YOU. A way of letting you all know that you are valued and respected in your roles. An acknowledgement that this role is at times difficult, and costly to yourselves and your families. To raise money for a service that provides scaffolding in your times of need is vital to ensuring that you remain resilient. As 2Dads marches on we have accumulated over 1000km!!! over a quarter of the way to complete our goal. To each team member: Whatever personal challenges you are experiencing in reaching the km's milestones, stay strong. I hope people are finding some benefits to the walk (physical and mental) I hope you are also all being kind to yourselves. Keep up with the photos. The blogs, the conversations, because ❤️ Together we are stronger ❤️ Anne (Lochie's Mum)

Tired and happy

Big thanks to Julie, Jayson, Abby, Ian and someone who would like to remain anonymous (I will refer to you as Chris Hemsworth until corrected 🤣). Every dollar raised is being put to good use! You are all great people. I have just come back from a walk and my legs are feeling a bit like jelly. Time to make dinner.

Thank you so much!

Phoebe, Ellery and Emma, thank you so much for your donations and thank you to all my sponsors. This is such an important cause, and your generosity is evidence of the love in our community, if we just reach out. I think I need to organise an After-March party at our place to celebrate and thank you properly. Cheers & Love, Mary xo

Lovely sunrise today

i may be turning into one of those smug annoying morning people. It won’t last. 🤣

Today’s walk

Started with the sun today. Big thanks to Zoe who walks with me most mornings. I don’t think I could get this done without you.

Ben is feeling left out

Okay beautiful people, my husband is getting his knickers in a knot about me getting sponsors and him not. I did suggest he let people know he was doing the challenge or write a blog, but he hasn’t had the time. So…. if you know others who are thinking of sponsoring, please direct them to Ben Favelle’s page (not sure if he has set it up yet). This message is especially directed at Favelle relatives and previous members of the amazing band, Mischief! 💕💕💕🤣

New and final fundraising target $700

Hi All, I am blown away by the support I have received. Thank you so much. When I started this challenge yesterday I didn’t have much confidence and immediately halved the suggested fundraising target from $1000 to $500. Due to your support, I have already exceeded the initial fund raising target! I have now increased my personal fund raising target to $700, but won’t increase it further. If I meet and exceed this final fundraising target, great. Feell free to keep contributing - it all goes to a worthy cause. However, cost of living pressures are real. Through my work, I experience first-hand the financial trade-offs families are making everyday. So, if all you can spare is your encouragement, I will gratefully take it! Thank you for believing in me. You have done your part, and I will do mine. Cheers and Love, Mary xo

Wow! initial fund raising goal reached

Thank you so much for supporting my challenge. I am humbled. Big shout out to Bec, Geoff, Carly, Renee, Lucas, Laura, Faye and Bob for getting me across the line. Just about to head off on another march now.

Marching together.

what a lovely start to March as we walk to raise awareness for suicide and mental health. Right now, suicide is the leading cause of death, at 42% for ex-serving males under 30 years old, and ex-serving females are 107% more likely to die by suicide than other Australian women*... 💔 These are devastating statistics that we are determined to change, and with your support, we will make a real difference to help prevent veteran suicide and save lives.

A message to my sponsors…..

Thanks Nikki, Adam, Nicole, and Holas! One of you popped my charity cherry! 🤣💕

Day one

Thank you, thank you, thank you to you beautiful people who have already sponsored me on this challenge. Because of you I went out again this evening and did another walk.

The Swell of Support

"March On" challenge 2025 starts Saturday week.

Since the suicide of Lochie Cross in January there has been a ground swell of support.

2Dads team created in his memory has 24 members standing strong on this day. With room for many more to walk with us.

We have had a staggering amount of donations that have every time brought me to tears.

This March the team will walk a cumulative total of 3523km. If a member of the team falls behind we walk for you!

We will post our achievements, photos of the beautiful places we walk, of ourselves, thoughts that we share, memories of sadness and happiness that we have.

This is a walk in Lochies name, but in support those that find themselves in a darkness and in need of the light - that can be any of us ❤️

It is a walk to raise money that is aimed at preventing family breakdowns and reducing the rate of suicide among our current and former defence service members. A repayment of gratitude for their sacrifice to us all.

And we will walk together because "together we are stronger"

Cairns team members, friends, supporters we will start the month @ 0600hours outside Hemingways, Saturday 1st March for a 10k esplanade walk (or whatever distance you can achieve) - returning to the Wharf One Cafe area for coffee/ breakfast following.

Team members in other areas - photos welcomed tagged to me ❤️

https://www.marchonchallenge.org.au/fundraisers/2dads

Support Our Challenge to Save Lives.

Lochlain Ryan Cross was a serving member of the Australian Navy having joined at the age of 17.

It was his dream job. He served strong and proud along side his mates. He gave it his all.

Sadly he has taken his life on the 27/01/25 at age 20.

For years I have walked for Soldier On's March On Challenge. Lochie did too. He was fit and young and physically healthy. He had his darkness and he fought it so hard, but he was so loving and giving and was always there for his mates.

This March we are walking in his memory. Please walk beside me so we can raise funds to support other serving and post service officers.

I was going to do this on my own, but together we are stronger.

Please March for Lochie.

Our Achievements

Our Team Members

Anne Ryan

Raised so far:

$6,956

Maddy

Raised so far:

$1,134

Andy Van Grinsven

Raised so far:

$378

Alecia Minotti

Robyn Harvey

Raised so far:

$1,772

Michael Galvin

Raised so far:

$12

Sharnee Dalglish

Raised so far:

$349

Kalyra Thompson

Raised so far:

$319

Dana Henderson

Jacinta Diehm

Raised so far:

$89

Kelly Ryan

Raised so far:

$105

Connor Lynn

Monique Hellmuth

Raised so far:

$2,882

Brooke Lewis

Raised so far:

$192

Jesse Taylor

Raised so far:

$376

Nicholas Cheetham

Raised so far:

$90

Lucinda Brown

Raised so far:

$470

Alison Statton

Raised so far:

$550

Amy Richer

Raised so far:

$94

Sally Jane

Raised so far:

$817

Blair Allie

Raised so far:

$287

Kass Cross

Raised so far:

$1,423

Melissa Moran

Raised so far:

$222

Sheila Ryan

Raised so far:

$706

Mary Favelle

Raised so far:

$1,435

Danielle Cole

Raised so far:

$318

Nicholaine Cantle

Raised so far:

$680

Lisa Hayes

Raised so far:

$1,406

Emily Stevens

Raised so far:

$106

Lara Stevens

Raised so far:

$701

Kathryn Davies

Kevin OShaughnessy

Raised so far:

$715

Tracey Bancroft

Raised so far:

$34

Ben Favelle

Raised so far:

$818

Oceah Stickland

Raised so far:

$40

Our Team Members

Monique Hellmuth

Raised so far: