Williamstown-based mental health foundation, Holla, hosted its first ‘Vulnerable Conversations’ event on Friday, June 2.
One hundred and fifty Hobsons Bay residents gathered for the event which featured two guest speakers.
One of the speakers was Tom Boyd, who retired from AFL due to mental health issues, joined by Danni Duncan who shared her own personal battles as well as her business as a fitness coach for women.
The four local runners who recently completed the impressive trek from Bondi to Williamstown also spoke on the panel.
Holla board member Laura-Jane Hargreaves said the event was a huge success.
“Some people submitted their own stories and we read those out through the night,” she said
“ … We talked about getting vulnerable and about having a fear of failure and how to push through mental struggles.”
The overall message of the night was how to find a new way of coping and how having a community that can be vulnerable together is beneficial.
All money raised from the night went directly to the Holla Foundation, which will use the funds to deliver community workshops through schools, workplaces and sport clubs.
Since the beginning of the foundation, it has raised $100,000 , $70,000 of which came from the run and the event on Friday.
Ms Hargreaves said everyone said they left feeling they learnt something.
“People were talking to us about it days after the event,” she said.
“We encourage anyone who would like to host a similar event to get in contact with us.”
Details: hollafoundation.com/shop/
Jennifer Pittorino
