A Townsville man has completed a marathon effort to raise money and awareness about men's mental health. With a target of sixty kilometres a day for thirty days, the 33-year-old father pushed through walking, running, riding and limping to the very end.
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00:00 In the dark of early morning, CJ Flood readies himself for more than a marathon effort.
00:07 60km a day for 30 days. All in the name of improving men's mental health.
00:14 I'm excited, but I'm also too really apprehensive for what can come over the next 30 days.
00:23 The grim statistic that globally 60 men die by suicide each hour inspired the challenge, along with overcoming his own troubles.
00:33 I went through my own struggles. I had a couple of close calls there that I didn't realise until I got a bit older, a bit more mature.
00:39 Struggles which included a medical discharge from the army, knee and shoulder reconstructions, chronic pain and significant weight gain.
00:47 Three years ago he couldn't walk without taking painkillers and here he is now punching out 60km a day every day.
00:54 But on week two of his odyssey, injury struck. A deep gash on one ankle and significant swelling on the other meant he was forced to alternate running days with cycling.
01:05 The emotional toll higher than the physical.
01:08 I'd rather be running. I'd rather have the excruciating pain and keep running. Because that's what I prepared for. I knew the pain levels that were coming.
01:19 His focus recovering enough to make the finish line.
01:23 We're held together at the moment by tape and bad ideas, but we keep moving forward.
01:27 Persistent aches and sleepless nights slowed him at times, but never to a standstill.
01:32 He's doing incredibly well. It's been such a journey. It's been like this. The ups and the downs. He's had challenges, he's had high times.
01:41 Raising almost $22,000 for charity and sparking many a conversation.
01:47 This was always about challenge yourself and trying to get others to challenge themselves and have those challenging conversations. I think we did that. I think it was a success.
01:56 I think it was a success.
01:56 [BLANK_AUDIO]