At 5am on November 30, six staff and students from Katoomba High embarked on a 17.5km up hill walk to school from the Lawson shops.
Each November, the school community raises awareness of the importance of mental health and fundraises for the Movember Foundation.
This year their target was $5000, which they reached following a trivia night on December 1 at Wentworth Falls Country Club.
They also held an auction at school to shave off the moustaches of staff and students, and the prefects and SRC ran a cupcake stall.
Movember is an annual event involving the growing of moustaches to raise awareness of men's health issues, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and men's suicide.
“Every six hours a young male in Australia takes his own life,” said head teacher of PE, Tom Daniels.
“Raising money is wonderful, but raising awareness is our primary objective. We completed our epic walking adventure to raise awareness of the important role that exercise has on mental wellbeing, as well as the obvious physical benefits.
“To highlight this even further, we did it as a group to emphasise the important role that support networks have for our mental wellbeing.”
He thanked everyone who joined the group along the way and stopped to have a chat.
“The conversation is important,” he said.
“[And] we even made it to school on time.”
- If you or someone you know needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
