29-year-old Brooke McIntosh, a runner from Perth, has set herself the task of running a lap of Australia, to raise awareness for mental health and raising $1.4 million for The Blue Tree Project. Last week, she ran right through Gundagai as part of her route.
Starting on March 2 in Perth, she is expected to finish her lap of Australia in August, running 14,080kms in 180 days, with no rest days allowed. She is hoping to become the fastest woman to run around Australia.
Following a near fatal car crash in 2022, Brooke struggled with her own mental health, and this truck accident sparked her transformation.
“My life took a turn when I survived a near-fatal truck accident on a Perth freeway. At that time, I was battling severe mental health challenges and even contemplated ending my life. That harrowing experience became a wake-up call, prompting me to transform my pain into purpose,” Brooke said.
“I turned to running as a form of therapy and resilience, aiming to raise awareness about mental health and inspire others to seek help.”
On her Gundagai leg, Brooke stayed overnight at the Gundagai Tourist Park, which she found ideal for a mid-run reset. Brooke said her stay in Gundagai was made even more memorable due to the people that got behind her and help keep her mission alive.
“What made my stay in Gundagai even more memorable was the people. I was visited by Nikki, a local from Jugiong. She’s a speech therapist, works on the family farms and is a strong advocate for mental health. Her support meant a lot – people like Nikki showing up and getting behind the mission are what keeps this run alive,” Brooke said.
“There was also a couple who saw our camper on the road and donated after supporting us. It’s moments like that – the quiet gestures, the unexpected support – that remind me how many people this message is reaching,” Brooke said.
Brooke said the journey has been tough, but incredibly rewarding.
“Some days I have to dig deep just to get through the kilometres, and other days feel effortless. What keeps me going are the conversations with strangers and the messages from people who are struggling – they’re a constant reminder of why I’m doing this,” Brooke said.
“This run is about more than just distance, it’s about showing what’s possible when you back yourself and keep going even when it’s hard,” Brooke said.
In 2023, Brooke completed a 1,600km run from the Pilbara to Perth, raising over $73,000 for mental health awareness through the Blue Tree Project and 20Talk, and believes that this experience solidified her commitment to using running to spark just one more conversation about mental health.
Brooke’s goal after finishing the full 14,080km is to continue speaking, sharing the story and hopefully releasing a documentary about the journey. But, more than that, she believes this is about creating a movement.
“This is about creating a movement – one that sparks just one more conversation, one more check in, one more reminder that it’s okay to ask for help.”
“This isn’t just a single challenge it’s part of a much bigger mission to remind people they’re not alone, and that they’re stronger than they think,” Brooke said.
Brooke’s journey can be followed at Brookemcintosh_ on Instagram if you would like to donate.
-Emily Flint
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