LACE up your boots and strap on a backpack - it's time to hit the track to raise funds and awareness for the mental health of our war veterans.
Saturday's Mildura Walking Off The War Within event starts at Nowingi Place and invites people to walk along the riverfront and promote positive mental health.
Volunteer Kosha Shanahan said the walk was created in memory of her husband Nathan Shanahan, a returned solider and firefighter, and other fallen service men and women who have taken their own lives after battling mental health issues.
Nathan was a fierce advocate for mental health. He lost his battle in December, 2016.
"It started with Nathan, who was struggling with his mental health and when he spoke up to his mates, he was afraid he wouldn't be accepted but he was, and the moral of the story is 'speak up and you will be accepted'," she said.
"He did a pack march from Mildura to Adelaide with a 25kg pack, walking for 10 days, to raise awareness and money which he donated to Soldier On."
"He had created this big following on Facebook, and we thought 'what can we do with these people?' In 2017, a group of close family and friends held the very first event in Ballarat."
Participants are encouraged to walk or run the 20km course with a 20kg weighted pack or simply walk any distance they can, with or without the pack.
"The backpack is symbolic of the burden of carrying the weight of mental illness, Nathan also physically carried the backpack with him when he did his march," Ms Shanahan said.
"The ultimate challenge is to do 20km so people are feeling completely challenged, but of course you can run any distance you want. The circuit is 2km so you can do one lap or 10."
Ms Shanahan said she hoped for around 700 participants.
"The more people that are walking and talking, the more conversations that start. We will have local support agencies at the event as part of the track, so they are there to show you what is available," she said.
"It is overwhelming what people can take away from the day, the connection and being surrounded by people who care. This is a safe place to have a conversation.
"If you walk 20km with someone, you are not going to be at the same pace, so before you know it, you are with a different group, and it is that constant togetherness."
"You can rock up and be on your own, but you will never be walking alone, you will always be walking with others."
The family event will also feature children's activities, face painting, Inflatable ObstaCool course, education displays, EnviroEDU animals, emergency and defence force vehicle and equipment displays, music by the JATZCRACKERS and more.
The walk begins at 8.30am at Nowingi Place, Hugh King Drive, Mildura, after a 30-minute warm-up. Register via the Eventbrite website.
Entry is free, or $10, $25 or a nominated amount of your choice. Proceeds will support the work of the Loddon Mallee LifeLine.
