A LOCAL teenager is hitting the pavement again in support of a cause close to her heart.
Yeah 11 student Jorja McDonald will be joined by Katelyn Wright, Shane Dibsdale, Kristy Shay and Luke Livingstone in completing the March with Me walk on March 5 and 6.
The epic walk will include a 70-kilometre leg from Portsea to Frankston and a 60-kilometre stretch from Frankston to the Port Melbourne Football Club.
The walk is a fund-raiser for the Love Me Love You Foundation, which was founded by former Kerang footballer Lance Picioane, who fought anxiety and depression during his 77-game AFL career.
The foundation delivers community and school programs that seek to reduce substance abuse issues and break down the stigma associated with youth mental health.
Miss McDonald is battling a suspected broken bone in her foot, sustained during last year’s walk, but she said it hadn’t deterred her from participating this year.
“I was in a moon boot for seven weeks last year and I had to rest it for 11 weeks in total so I have had only eight weeks of training this year compared with about six months last year,” she said.
“The doctor said I shouldn’t be doing it but it’s only a foot at the end of the day and it’s worth it to support the cause.”
Miss McDonald – who raised $4000 last year – said the foundation meant a lot to her because of how it had helped her overcome mental health problems.
“I met Lance in 2013 and he wanted me to do his walk in 2014 but I wasn’t physically capable so he encouraged me to exercise,” she said.
“I suffer anxiety and exercise has helped me to turn my life around and that’s why the cause means so much to me. Exercise is my medicine.”
Miss McDonald became a Love Me Love You ambassador after last year’s walk, working to promote the foundation.
She is currently training daily, spending about two hours after school walking 15 kilometres.
Last Saturday morning, she and Miss Wright organised a walk around Kerang, with 87 participants donating to the cause to raise more than $1200.
They will hold another walk tomorrow morning, starting at 7.30am from Autopro, followed by a barbecue.
They are also running a raffle, with tickets available at the school and local businesses including newsXpress, Rulcify’s, Sportspower, Autopro, Sporties and Terry White Chemists.
The duo has created a Facebook page – Jorja & Katelyn’s blog March with Me 2016 – with information about their fund-raising efforts and links to donate.
