By DANI ROTHWELL
TOTAL Fitness Day is coming to Narre Warren on 11 October.
Nik Kyriacou, of NRGETIC Lifestyle and Fitness, is running a fund-raiser for headspace Narre Warren focusing on increasing awareness about the impacts of a healthy lifestyle on mental health.
It comes at a time where one in four young people aged 16-24 will experience a mental health or substance use disorder in any given year in Australia.
Suicide is also the highest cause of death in 20 to 24-year-olds.
The day will feature local businesses and organisations promoting healthy products and lifestyles and aim to raise money to support the Narre Warren headspace centre that launched in May.
“Our aim for the day is to get awareness out to the local community of the importance of maintaining a fit, healthy and happy lifestyle for all ages to prevent illnesses impacting mental health,” she said.
Nik hopes that putting a range of options together in an inviting event, it will inspire people to become more active.
“It’s to help Casey and Cardinia live more active, happy lifestyles,” she said.
“There’s a lot out there, they don’t know where to look or they just don’t.
“I’m hoping putting it in front of them, it makes it easier.”
Stalls on the day will include Casey Scorpions running football drills, Chobani Yogurt, dieticians, naturopaths, personal trainers, alternative therapies, health foods, travel consultants, beauty stalls, lifestyle activities and kids’ activities.
“There’s a lot of kids I see going through things like the ice epidemic, it scares me a bit,” she said.
“It’s something that doesn’t need to happen – if they had more interests and hobbies it may help.”
She chose headspace Narre Warren because they’re local.
“I wanted someone close and connected to the community,” she said.
Total Fitness Day will complete Mental Health Week in October and will be held at the Oakgrove Community Centre.
