Truck driver amazed at Brooke McIntosh’s 1600km mental health run from Karratha to Perth

A truck driver has resonated with the cause of a young FIFO worker’s 1600km run from Karratha to Perth, after passing her on the highway and speaking to her on a two-way radio. Brooke McIntosh ran through the Gascoyne last week, passing through the Shark Bay shire into Carnarvon during her run for mental health awareness in the mining and construction industries. The 27-year-old FIFO worker is raising funds for mental health education charity 20Talk and the Blue Tree Project. She couldn’t contain her emotion when she saw her first blue tree on Thursday, weeping on the side of the highway. Member for North West Central Merome Beard stopped to congratulate her on Sunday near Wooramel Roadhouse. “I was lucky enough to be able to briefly meet Brooke as she passed and congratulate her on her enormous challenge, strength and dedication to such an important cause,” she said. Truck driver Kevin Higgs was another astounded bypasser who said Ms McIntosh communicated with heavy haulage vehicles on the two-way while she was running along the highway. “I said ‘you don’t see a girl jogging on the highway every day’, then she got on the two-way and said she’s running from Karratha to Perth,” he said. “I asked if there was anything I could do to help.” Mr Higgs said he has approached his supervisor to ask their company to donate to the cause as it was something that resonated with him as a truck driver who worked long shifts on the road and his daughter was a FIFO worker. “I’ve got a young daughter that’s 25 and she suffers with a bit of mental health and anxiety and she is a FIFO worker, so that resonates with me hugely,” he said. “Let’s get behind this amazing young girl. Everyone talks about mental health but there’s not too many people that get out and do this.” Ms McIntosh is asking local businesses and organisations with a passion for mental health to join her when she arrives in Geraldton this Friday. She plans to speak to visitors at the park near AJs Cafe. To donate and help Ms McIntosh reach her $100,000 fundraising goal visit mycause.com.au or, if you’re a business wanting to join the conversation, contact kendall@bluetreeproject.com.au. Lifeline 13 11 14