Hike To Heal Australia

Hike to Heal Australia

Hike to Heal Australia is a not for profit suicide prevention organisation inspiring communities to strengthen wellbeing while walking beside people dealing with mental ill health and suicide loss towards hope, healing and connection.

Hike to Heal Australia arose out of a family tragedy. On November 2nd 2016, the Barton Family lost their son, brother and friend to suicide. Nick Pope was a fun-loving, kind-hearted person who enjoyed a joke and relished making others laugh. His death was both unexpected and devastating to those who knew him. The lives of his family, friends and work colleagues were impacted by inconsolable loss, grief, and regret.

Research demonstrated that Nick was only one of eight other Australians that died of suicide that day. Sixty-five thousand (65,000) others contemplated taking their own life that year.

Hike to Heal Australia was established by the Barton’s in memory of Nick, their much-loved son.  The Barton’s, looking for a way to make meaning out of their loss, seek to destigmatise suicide, raise community awareness and promote connection, created Hike to Heal Australia in collaboration with a small group of family & friends.

The Hike to Heal Scavenger Hike is Hike to Heal Australia’s flagship event, unique to the Toowoomba Region.  It is an interactive hiking event for all levels of fitness and hiking experience.  Hikers have fun following clues on the Mt Peel Nature Reserve to find natural treasures and solve riddles as they walk along the trail.