General News
30 September, 2023
Blisters force hike postponement
SHEER grit and determination were unfortunately no match for painful blisters which forced an early, but temporary, end to Warracknabeal teen Rohan Richards' Hike for Mental Health. Sixteen-year-old Rohan set off from Warracknabeal Post Office on...
SHEER grit and determination were unfortunately no match for painful blisters which forced an early, but temporary, end to Warracknabeal teen Rohan Richards' Hike for Mental Health.
Sixteen-year-old Rohan set off from Warracknabeal Post Office on September 18, originally planning to walk 250km over nine days, and raise awareness in local communities about the effects of mental illness, and raise money for the Black Dog Institute.
After developing painful blisters on his feet, which meant he was unable to walk properly, Rohan was reluctantly forced to end the hike after only 100km.
Hoping to hike from Warracknabeal to Antwerp, Jeparit and Rainbow, before heading up to Hopetoun, Beulah, Brim and back to Warracknabeal, the determined teen is far from done.
"Once my feet recover I plan to kick off again," he said.
"October is Mental Health Month and I plan to complete the remaining 150km over several weekends."
Although feeling he has let people down, Rohan was pleased to have received amazing support to easily surpass his initial fundraising goal of $1,000.
"It feels good to know that what I was doing makes a difference."
Starting strong on the Monday, Rohan had a few co-hikers join him briefly in the morning before he hiked solo for seven hours, using music, photography and distant objects to pass the time and keep himself motivated.
Arriving at camp, where he was met by further supporters, Rohan arose on the Tuesday and walked two kilometres before starting to feel pain in his feet.
"Initially I didn't think too much of it, believing it was the weight in my pack that was hurting my feet," he said.
"But when I got to Jeparit I couldn't walk properly and noticed severe blistering.
"My parents pulled the pin, so I used my three rest days to try and heal, setting off again on the Saturday."
Changing to sneakers and padding his feet, which he said helped a little, Rohan started to "get blisters on blisters", and was 15km outside Rainbow when he met his family for a barbecue and started to think he couldn't go on.
"I met my family for a barbecue and decided to push on to Rainbow, arriving at 7.40pm, before reluctantly giving in for now."
Anyone wishing to donate to Rohan's hike can do so at https://www.teamblackdog.org.au/fundraisers/rohanrichards/rohan--s-fundraiser