Every now and then, a story lands in our inbox that hits a little differently. This one did exactly that. Morgan reached out to us a while ago, and we couldn’t not share his epic journey and his incredibly important cause with you all.
Here it is, team:
“My name is Morgan, a landscaper from Whanganui, and I’ve been living in Christchurch for the past five years.
Since moving here, I’ve fallen in love with the outdoors—running, hiking, pushing myself further than I ever thought possible. Before that, I was never really into fitness or the outdoors. But something changed.
I’ve struggled with my mental health for most of my life. When I was younger, I didn’t know how to talk about it, or even that I could. That silence led me into some really dark places. Back then, it felt like no one spoke about mental health, and I didn’t know where to turn.
Eventually, I realised something simple but powerful: being outside—whether it’s a walk, a run, or a hike—it makes me feel better. It doesn’t fix everything, but it helps. It clears the noise.
Over the past couple of years, I’ve run a few ultramarathons. I still have tough days—mental health isn’t something you just ‘beat’. But I’ve learned how to recognise the signs and take the steps I need to pull myself out.
On September 1st, I’ll be running 617km to raise money for I AM HOPE. Why 617? Because that’s the number of Kiwis who took their own lives last year.
This run is for them—for anyone who’s struggling, for anyone who feels like they’re alone, and for anyone who needs to know that it does get better. I want to prove that hard things are possible—and that no one has to go through it alone.”
HUGE shoutout to Morgan for being an absolute weapon and for turning his pain into purpose. We’re beyond stoked to back him on this journey.
If you’re keen to support Morgan’s mission and donate to the cause, click the link here.
Let’s get behind him, team. 💛
