Pilbara locals take a hike for better health awareness

Hikers built up a sweat in aid of their physical and mental health and took to the Yaburara Heritage Trail in Karratha on Sunday, June 16.

The Men’s Health Week and Bridge the Gap hike was a joint initiative from Balance Health and Fitness and the Yaburara and Coastal Mardudhunera Aboriginal Corporation, which aimed to raise awareness around the health issues men, and women, face on a daily basis.

BHF owner Geoff Barnett moved to Karratha in March after being diagnosed with clinical depression and anxiety and deciding he needed a change of scenery.

“I’ve learnt a lot of basic tools to incorporate in to my life and I’ve found exercise really helpful given my fitness background,” he said.

“It created a spark within me that health and fitness also has to incorporate the mental and spiritual health.”

The hike started at and returned to the Karratha Leisureplex and participants were joined by Richard Cosmos, from YACMAC, chaplain Ollie Haynes, from Acacia Prison, and a representative from Headspace Pilbara.

Mr Barnett said the Bridge the Gap portion of the hike was to try to bring everyone together.

“I know from my experience that mental, spiritual and physical health doesn’t discriminate against race and religion, it affects every body,” he said.

“But the overall aim was to spark a conversation and the video, which Fido. Photography made of the hike, already has 4500 views, so we have a really strong foundation for next year.”