When Portland Tigers footballer and social worker Pat Pekin initiated the ISO232 challenge for mental health awareness, he didn't expect the response he got.
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Pekin's challenge has raised almost $7500 and had more than 100 participants.
ISO232 - which ran from April 24 to May 22 - encouraged people to complete 232 kilometres of running or bike riding to raise money for Beyond Blue.
Pekin thanked the south-west community for helping him raise a total way beyond his expectations.
"(The goal) was set at $1000, I just thought I'll see what happens," he said.
Pekin chose 232km because according to data on the Life in Mind website an average of 8.3 deaths by suicide occurred in Australia each day in 2018 (calculated by Mindframe).
That equates to 232 people in four weeks - the length of the challenge.
Pekin said the main aim of the fundraiser was to promote the idea of checking in on each other and the importance of physical and mental health, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The idea came about when he was discussing mental health with friends on his weekly podcast A Chat with Pat.
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From there it grew into a south-west phenomenon through social media.
Most of Portland's senior footballers took up the challenge as did players from other Hampden league clubs.
Pekin, who has been part of the Tigers leadership group, said the challenge proved good training motivation for the side as the season is postponed due to the pandemic.
"Holty (senior coach Jarrod Holt) will be thanking me later," he said with a laugh.
South Warrnambool footballers Tait Niddrie and Brayden Beks, who went to Ballarat's Federation University with Pekin, jumped on board. Niddrie and Pekin are former housemates.
"Brayden and I thought we'd like to contribute in any way we could," Niddrie said.
They reached the 232kms as a team, running 116 each.
Their Roosters teammates Tom Wilson and Corey Gallichan also completed the challenge.
Wilson combined running with riding, with Gallichan ran the 232km.
A contingent from the Drysdale Football Club in the Bellarine league also got involved as Pekin has close mates there.
Pekin said Beyond Blue got in touch with him during the challenge and provided him with resources to distribute.
The social worker also recently had mental health advocate Dr Kieran Kennedy as a guest on his podcast.
He has kept the ISO232 GoFundMe web page open if anyone would like to donate to the fundraiser.
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