Sunshine Coast family-man Ben Murphy was tragically lost to a mental health crisis and alcoholism two years ago at the early age of 37.
“He was a big character. Playful banter was his love language,” his sister Megan Murphy said.
“He was really a big family guy and took pride in looking after his family and his two boys, Harry and Arlo.”
Megan has gathered a team of 45 runners who will take on the Sunshine Coast Marathon as Blue for Benny on Sunday 3 August, raising funds for Mentoring Men, a free service connecting men with trained, local male mentors.
While working at Sunshine Butterflies charity in Cooroibah, Megan spoke to Noosa Today to share her family’s story and why she has chosen to take part in the marathon to raise money for men’s mental health.
“Harry and Arlo are quite young, so I want them to be able to remember all the good parts of their Dad,” Megan said.
“I wanted them to have this positive experience to attach to this experience that they’ve had, which is obviously pretty dark and grim.”
She believes the Mentoring Men charity’s non-judgmental mentoring could have provided a lifeline for her brother and wants to ensure others know help is out there, even when therapy feels out of reach.
“Mental health is not a weakness, it’s just part of being human. There’s a lot of shame surrounding it and I know my brother experienced that,” she said.
Research commissioned earlier this year by Mentoring Men uncovered the scale of the mental health crisis affecting Aussie men like Benny.
Most men are experiencing mental health and personal challenges, and whilst 95 per cent of men surveyed acknowledge support would help them navigate life’s challenges, 42 per cent of respondents admitted to ‘pushing through on their own’ because they did not not know where to turn.
“I did a bit of research and I love that Mentoring Men are quite forward thinking and they have a different approach to what I’ve seen,” Megan said.
“They’ve trained mentors locally and they’re relatable men just having a chat. I just feel like that’s what could have worked for my brother. It would have been a lifeline for him. And so that resonates with me.”
Megan, who has previously taken part in the Noosa Triathlon, said training for the Sunshine Coast Marathon has had a positive impact on her own mental health.
“It’s having something positive to work towards and having the accountability of ‘I’ve got to do this’,” she said.
“A lot of people have been touched by it in their own ways, and I’ve had friends say to me, ‘Oh, I’ve been able to talk to my dad about mental health because of this’. It’s brought up a conversation and they’re like, ‘Oh, this is what we’re doing for Megzy.'”
Blue for Benny have currently raised $3500 and aim to reach $5000.
A special Blue for Benny post-marathon fundraising event will be held at Solbar on Sunday 3 August from 3pm till late with free entry and live music.
To donate to Blue For Benny and Mentoring Men visit shorturl.at/WCOBp
