Ben Welch is running from Mildura to Echuca in honour of his brothers Jai and Zac, raising much-needed funds for headspace along the way. Photos: Cindy Power
It’s only 17 days until Echuca’s Ben Welch, or Mino as he is known, will hit the road and punch out 380km as he runs from Mildura to Echuca in honour of his two brothers Jai and Zac.
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Jai passed away in a tragic skiing accident in Robinvale a decade ago, while brother Zac took his own life two years ago.
Ben has set himself a personal target of completing the challenge in just four days, four hours and 44 minutes or 444 — brother Zac’s favourite number.
He is also raising much-needed funds for headspace in Echuca, Swan Hill and Mildura along the way.
Originally Ben wanted to raise $50,000 but community support has well and truly smashed that figure out of the park, with the GoFundMe now sitting around $190,000.
“Our aim is to now make as much money as we possibly can and help as many people via headspace as we possibly can,” Ben said.
Ben and his small support crew, including a pilot vehicle, will leave Mildura Hospital on Monday, March 3 at 4.44am, running into Vic Park on Friday, March 7 at 4.44pm.
Ben will run four consecutive 85km days followed by a 42km marathon from Gunbower to Echuca on the final leg.
There will be a series of community events taking place along the way, which include a barbecue lunch for a gold coin donation at the Cohuna Visitor Information Centre on Thursday, March 6, from 12.30pm.
Thursday night will see a free practice match kick off at the Gunbower football oval from 5.30pm where the Murray Bombers will take on Leitchville Gunbower.
Friday’s finish-line celebrations at Vic Park will commence at 4pm and will include free entertainment from local music legends RABS, Intrepid and Heidi Moncrief Music. There will be food vendors and health support workers in attendance, gold coin donations are welcome.
Please bring your own chair/picnic rug.
Ben said he had been blown away by the all support he had received right along the river.
“I am getting encouraging messages every day and I am feeling ready,” he said.
“I couldn’t have had a better preparation, it is now all about making sure I stay injury-free.”
Ben said his body was feeling weary but good, and weekly visits with Darren Seabrook and podiatrist Tamara Nicholls were keeping him in great shape.
A headspace spokesperson said the whole team was in awe of Ben and his run.
Ben Welch is running from Mildura to Echuca in honour of his brothers Jai and Zac.
Photo by
Cindy Power
“As an organisation, we are amazed by the generosity of the community and Ben,” the spokesperson said.
“To come together to raise funds to support the young people and to support early intervention of mental health and, in Ben’s words, hopefully change the course that is a reality for some young people’s mental health journey.”
Ben’s current fundraising total already offers up an additional 330 individual appointments for a year, therapeutic and specialised group programs and will help deliver community events and presentations, to encourage young people to seek help for mental health and wellbeing.
The QR code will take you directly to the GoFundMe page.
Headspace is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation providing early intervention mental health services to 12- to 25-year-olds.
If you want to help Ben in his quest to improve mental health outcomes for young people, you can donate via the 444 Run’s GoFundMe page.
There are still some kilometre sponsor opportunities left, just write ‘km sponsor’ on donations over $100 and the team will sign you up.
There is also an online auction running on Facebook, just type in ‘the 444 run auction’.
Some of the auction items up for grabs include a corporate box at an AFL game (West Coast vs Collingwood), a B-double of split red gum wood, accommodation and fitness packages.
You can contact Echuca headspace centre on 5485 5408, headspace@erh.org.au or visit the centre at 451 High St, Echuca. Support is available via phone on 1800 650 890 and online counselling can be accessed seven days a week between 9am and 1am.
