Steps for Change

Steps for Change

1 Country - 2 Islands - 3000+Km

Josh Thomson is undertaking an incredible journey, Steps for Change, walking the length of New Zealand starting November 2016. A staggering 3000+ km to raise awareness and much needed funds to support work with youth obesity, health, fitness, depression and anxiety in New Zealand. Starting with the first steps from Cape Reinga heading south towards Bluff on the morning of 13th November 2016.

Mental Health Awareness Week is October 10-16, linking with the launch of Josh’s personal project and journey - Steps for Change. He hopes to inspire others with his incredible story and message that anyone can achieve anything, one step at a time.

Josh will be walking the 3000km Te Araroa trail in November 2016, running down the centre of New Zealand, one of the youngest and most beautiful thru-hikes in the world. Josh is currently speaking with three organisations that perfectly represent the key issues he is raising awareness for and has personally experienced. Visit Josh’s Facebook page and website for all the updates in his Steps for Change journey. www.facebook.com/stepsforchangenz www.stepsforchange.nz

Josh’s journey tugs on your heart-strings, inspires you to reevaluate, accept the world around you and move forward, one step at a time to make it a better place. His upcoming journey will not only do this for himself and his own personal development, but it will benefit our communities throughout New Zealand.

“Six years ago I hit 165kg… that's huge for a 21 year old, or anyone for that matter!! I was terrified and 100 percent believed I could never change, that I would stay big until I died a young man like the doctor told me. After a particularly dark bout of depression I realised that no matter how I felt, I was the only person capable of making a change.” says Josh.

Every other week you hear a mention of youth obesity on the radio or read about another person opening up about the depression and anxiety they have have been struggling with for years, if not their whole lives. It's great we've started to have more dialogue about these subjects but there is much more to do.

“So with support from friends and family I decided to start making small changes to my life to see if I could lose some weight. Some of those changes include selling my car and buying a bike. Cutting down the amount of processed food I was eating and started to cook healthier and more nutritious meals. Stopped punishing myself for having a bad day and just telling myself “No one's perfect, always another day tomorrow!”. I was knocked down but kept getting back up and started to see small steps as a huge win over doing nothing; day by day the weight came off.”

You can join Josh on his journey by walking a section of the trail near you, contact him on josh@stepsforchange.nz or send a message on Facebook and let him know you’re keen! Follow his footsteps on www.facebook.com/stepsforchangenz and www.stepsforchange.nz

“It would mean the world to me if you could donate to the organisations I have chosen to support (to be announced very soon!!) and spread the message that with small steps we can all make the changes we want or need in our lives!”

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