On Sunday, University of Wollongong lecturer Dr Jody Gorman will 'run for a reason' in the inaugural Run Shellharbour challenge.
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That reason is personal, and painful. Dr Gorman, also a researcher at the Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, wants to fund suicide prevention programs in schools after her 15-year-old nephew Ace took his own life in June.
"After losing Ace, I became acutely aware of the need to give our kids, especially our boys, the language and tools to be able to talk about how they feel even if its hard," she said.
"Ace was loved by so many, had a very supportive family and many friends but no-one knew he was at the point where he might take his own life."
When Dr Gorman saw radio personality Gus Worland speak about the origin, vision and educational programs of his Gotcha4Life foundation, she knew she'd found her mission.
"The Gotcha4Life foundation was established to address declining mental health and to reduce suicide in our men and boys and I wanted to get on board," she said.
"I did a bit more research and decided that I wanted to bring the Tomorrow Man workshops to schools in the Illawarra.
"Tomorrow Man workshops aim to disrupt old-school male stereotypes in an effort to create a more positive version of masculinity to live by.
"That means learning how to have real and honest conversations and having a mate you can talk to 'warts and all' as Gus says."
On Sunday Dr Gorman and her team - of 60 runners - will take part in the Run Shellharbour event which will take place next to Shellharbour Surf Club.
Dr Gorman has also set up a Benojo fundraising page 'Bring Tomorrow Man into our Illawarra Schools' which has raised almost $4000.
Eight people die by suicide each day in Australia, and three-quarters of them are male.
"The statistics are terrifying and mental health issues and suicide are increasing," she said.
"I think the awareness of mental health issues is improving but we don't have the programs and tools required to deal with those issues which is where funding needs to be directed.
"There are some great things being done in our local schools but there needs to be more. The message needs to be consistent and age appropriate and ideally built into the curriculum throughout high school."
For further details visit runshellharbour.com.au. If the code GOTCHA is used when registering, half the entry fee will support Dr Gorman's fundraising efforts. There will also be a Gotcha4Life information tent at the event.