STAFF WRITERS
THE Moe community will gather this Sunday to honour the legacy of the late Riley Pearce.
A walk/run has been organised by the Pearce/Walsh family and Mindfull Aus. Riley ‘ Choppy’ Pearce courageously battled with mental health illness for some time. Choppy’s determination and courage throughout his battle and his lived experience of this illness, allowed him to help and assist others in their own battle with mental health. Choppy was a vivid mental health campaigner and the legacy he has left behind was evident when many family, friends, and the wider community came together to farewell Choppy, and share their stories, after he tragically took his own life in January 2021, aged 17. The devastating effect of Choppy’s death was felt across the whole community, and it was at this horrific time all came to know just how many people Choppy supported through their dark times, as many came forward about their own struggles with mental illness. The inaugural ‘Walk With Chop’ fundraiser has been arranged to not only honour Choppy, but to assist Mindfull Aus in continuing to empower the youth of today so they can enjoy a better tomorrow. “Choppy, we miss you dearly, and as much as it hurts us all to know the pain you must have been suffering, your legacy is our strength, and we will endeavour to honour this forever. We love ya mate,” the Pearce family said. All participants of the walk must register ($25) and will receive their custom Walk With Chop event T-Shirt from the Mindfull Aus Booth on the day and get their own fundraising page. You can register using this link: walkwithchop.gofundraise.com.au/cms/home Participants will not be able to take place without registration on the day. The walk/run commences from 9.30am at Moe Botanical Gardens this Sunday (April 16). The walk is six kilometres and the run 14km. A barbecue and coffee van will be there on the day. Live music by Mat ‘ Tezmo’ Howlett Music. Raffle tickets will be available for purchase on the day. This will be drawn on Saturday, May 13 at the Moe versus Traralgon Mindfull Aus Mental Health Round in the Gippsland League. Refreshments will also be available at the Moe Tennis Club following the event. If you or your business would like to support the event, email Mindfull Aus via admin@mindfullaus.org. If you or someone you know is suffering, phone Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636, or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
