MY STORY — WHY I’M RUNNING FROM LAUNCESTON TO HOBART FOR SPEAK UP! STAY CHATTY Hi my name is Matt dingjan, 40 year old business owner/entrepreneur, father of 4 and husband. I’m running from Launceston to Hobart for one reason: because mental health is claiming too many lives — including nearly my own. In 2023, I came frighteningly close to losing my life to suicide. It was the darkest moment I’ve ever faced, a place I never imagined I’d find myself. On the outside I looked strong, capable, holding everything together… but inside I was exhausted, overwhelmed, and silently falling apart. I survived — but far too many don’t get that chance. Recently, Tasmania has been shaken by a heartbreaking rise in suicides. We’ve lost far too many good people: fathers, mothers, friends, teammates, co-workers. People we laughed with, worked with, and cared about… suddenly gone. And every loss leaves a hole that never truly closes. So this run isn’t about fitness. It’s not about breaking records. It’s about breaking silence. I’m doing this because talking saves lives, and because Speak Up! Stay ChatTY has one of the most important messages in the world: Have the conversation. Check on your mates. Keep each other here. The distance from Launceston to Hobart mirrors what mental health struggles feel like — long, heavy, painful — but absolutely survivable when you take it step by step and refuse to quit. And this time, I won’t be doing it alone. My son Tyrel is joining me. Running beside me as a reminder of what truly matters, and as proof that the next generation deserves a Tasmania where mental health isn’t a silent battle. Every kilometre is for the people we’ve lost. Every step is for those still fighting. And the entire journey is for anyone who needs to know: you are not alone, and your story is not over.