Donate to Aaron

Aaron Eastgate
9  year  Mo Bro
platinum club
hall of fame

$1,030

Target: $2,500
raised $28,600 since 2017
My motivation
Fundraising for cause areas including:
Mental health and suicide prevention

Eight years ago, but it feels like yesterday, I nervously rushed back to my desk to return the many missed calls from my Mum.

“Aaron, your Mum has been trying to call you. It’s an emergency.”

What my Mum told me was the most shocking and heart-wrenching news. But I recall feeling numb as I grabbed my bag and left the office, almost like nothing happened.

Mum called back 5 minutes later. “Are you okay?”

Only then, as I walked alone across Driver Avenue in Moore Park did it start to hit me. My Dad was gone.

Do his brothers and sisters know? Does his Mum know? Do my brothers know? What do I tell my 2-year-old son next time he asks for the man he called Gan-Gan because he was too young to master the word Grandad?

Do we drive down to Nowra tonight to be with family? My wife is in the middle of IVF treatment, how do I tell her?

Seeing a different relative every day and having that sinking feeling was almost like being tortured.

But what about Dad? How did he feel? How did it get to a point where he felt the only way out was to leave the people he loved most?

That’s what makes me the saddest.

To try and put myself in his shoes and the pain he must have been feeling, to be able to end it all despite everything he loved being left behind.

Things must have been bad.

To put it all into perspective, for nearly 10 years my Dad had an undiagnosed illness that would constantly make him physically sick. If he was lucky, he would get a day or two where he felt normal. He would see a new doctor or naturopath and there was hope he would come good. But he never did.

One good day turned into two bad weeks and several emergency hospital visits because he just couldn’t stop vomiting.

But there was more to his illness than the physical aspect. He was struggling with the unwanted opinions of strangers who were judging him.

My Dad came out as gay in 2012. For a lifetime he disguised his true self because of the fear of being abandoned by his own parents, family and friends.

It was the Gay Marriage vote in 2017 that drew the last straw. Not only was he still physically sick almost every day, but mentally he had to listen to these strangers judge him on the news and all over social media when they knew nothing about him.

What must have been going through his head to want to leave us all? It’s something I think about a lot. Was he thinking of all of us when he decided it was time. Did he plan to write a letter but he was just in too much pain. We know he had tried before. But what was different this time?

Maybe he was at peace with where everyone was at in their lives or maybe the world is just too cruel and he simply couldn’t take it anymore.

I always try and remember the amazing times we all had with him. The countless breathless cackles as he threw out a crude one-liner. The amount of smiles he brought to us and everyone around him will always remain as my core memories of him.

I just wish he said goodbye. I just wish Christmas and all of those family events still included him. I just wish our kids got to experience his infectious personality.

But most of all I wish he knew how much we loved him.

Again, it’s the time of year where I find a way to remember him through growing a dirty moustache like his. But more importantly, raising funds and awareness for mental health.

This year, I’ll still grow the mo. I’ll still be running 5km every day. But more importantly, I’ll be spending more time truly being present with my kids – more one-on-one time and simply asking them what they want to do, and just saying yes.

Be that person someone can talk to. But more importantly, hug the ones closest to you that little bit tighter tonight.

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How I'm
getting involved
SloMos
Team captain Aaron Eastgate
$1,030 Team funds raised
View Team Page
65 of 165 kilometres
walking
running
65 kilometres
Your feed

Leave Aaron a comment
 

3 hour(s) ago
Donation from:
Bernadette Devenish
$50

Well done Aaron, love Dette and Dean

3 hour(s) ago
Donation from:
Bernadette Devenish
$50

Well done Aaron, love Dette and Dean

7 hour(s) ago
Donation from:
STRIVE Fitness and Nutrition
$50
7 hour(s) ago
Donation from:
STRIVE Fitness and Nutrition
$50
22 hour(s) ago
I ran 5 km

22 hour(s) ago
I ran 5 km

22 hour(s) ago
Donation from:
Matt Attard
$100
22 hour(s) ago
Donation from:
Matt Attard
$100
1 day(s) ago
Donation from:
an anonymous supporter
$10
1 day(s) ago
Donation from:
an anonymous supporter
$10
1 day(s) ago
I ran 5 km

1 day(s) ago
I ran 5 km

2 day(s) ago
Donation from:
O’Connor Cleary Lawyers
$25

Happy Birthday Legend. Incredible what you’re doing

2 day(s) ago
Donation from:
O’Connor Cleary Lawyers
$25

Happy Birthday Legend. Incredible what you’re doing

3 day(s) ago
Donation from:
Mickey Coleman
$25

Smashing it brother

3 day(s) ago
Donation from:
Mickey Coleman
$25

Smashing it brother

3 day(s) ago
I ran 10 km

3 day(s) ago
I ran 10 km

4 day(s) ago
Donation from:
Eric Mort
$30
4 day(s) ago
Donation from:
Eric Mort
$30
4 day(s) ago
Donation from:
Matt Attard
$100
4 day(s) ago
Donation from:
Matt Attard
$100
4 day(s) ago
Donation from:
Casey Thomson
$20
4 day(s) ago
Donation from:
Casey Thomson
$20
4 day(s) ago
I ran 5 km

4 day(s) ago
I ran 5 km

4 day(s) ago
I ran 5 km

4 day(s) ago
I ran 5 km

6 day(s) ago
Donation from:
Josh Eastgate
$200

Forever proud of you, Aaron.
Love, your big brother.

6 day(s) ago
Donation from:
Josh Eastgate
$200

Forever proud of you, Aaron.
Love, your big brother.

6 day(s) ago
I ran 5 km

6 day(s) ago
I ran 5 km

6 day(s) ago
I ran 5 km

6 day(s) ago
I ran 5 km

1 Week(s) Ago
I ran 5 km

Improving pace every day

1 Week(s) Ago
I ran 5 km

Improving pace every day

1 Week(s) Ago
I ran 5 km

Toe socks to the rescue

1 Week(s) Ago
I ran 5 km

Toe socks to the rescue

1 Week(s) Ago
Donation from:
Brian Eastgate
$35

All the best mat. Good on ya.

1 Week(s) Ago
Donation from:
Brian Eastgate
$35

All the best mat. Good on ya.

1 Week(s) Ago
I ran 5 km

Running this heavy is hard!

1 Week(s) Ago
I ran 5 km

5km with a cameo from Dougie

1 Week(s) Ago
I ran 5 km

5km with Mitch

1 Week(s) Ago
Donation from:
Phil Pellizzeri
$50

Well done again mate.
Phil Pellizzeri

1 Week(s) Ago
Donation from:
Julie Renshaw
$35

Something super close to my heart! Even though we’ve never met, I admire your commitment for such an important and great cause! Well done for continuing to fundraise and raise awareness each year!

1 Week(s) Ago
Donation from:
Darren McCoy
$100

Hook in brother, you've got this!!

1 Week(s) Ago
Donation from:
Rachael Rowse
$65

You're so amazing recognising this and wanting to make a change for yourself and your family. Dad would be so proud of you, we all are. What an awesome achievement raising that much money for such a worthy cause.
Well done mate ❤️
Troy & Rach

2 Week(s) Ago
Donation from:
Kelly Rees
$35

You are amazing! From Robbie

2 Week(s) Ago
Donation from:
Ness Van Zetten
$50

Always proud of you mate! Love the VZs

2 Week(s) Ago
Donation from:
Matt Attard
$50
Previous year's activities
47 Week(s) Ago
I cycled 40.01 km01:57:25

Previous year's donations
49 Week(s) Ago
Donation from:
Kylie Blackburn
$870

I only wish my Dad had of spoken to someone after my Mum died. Maybe he might have had that will to be with his family rather than withering away

49 Week(s) Ago
I ran 61.5 km

49 Week(s) Ago
Donation from:
Politix Australia
$20

POLITIX wants to help you support Movember - so here's a little bit extra towards changing the face of men's health

49 Week(s) Ago
I cycled 20 km

50 Week(s) Ago
I swam 1 km

50 Week(s) Ago
I ran 10 km

50 Week(s) Ago
I cycled 20 km

50 Week(s) Ago
I swam 1 km

50 Week(s) Ago
I ran 10 km

Previous year's posts
53 Week(s) Ago
Aaron Eastgate

104 Week(s) Ago
Aaron Eastgate

104 Week(s) Ago
Aaron Eastgate

105 Week(s) Ago
Aaron Eastgate

105 Week(s) Ago
Aaron Eastgate

105 Week(s) Ago
Aaron Eastgate

105 Week(s) Ago
Aaron Eastgate

105 Week(s) Ago
Aaron Eastgate

105 Week(s) Ago
Aaron Eastgate

105 Week(s) Ago
Aaron Eastgate

106 Week(s) Ago
Aaron Eastgate

155 Week(s) Ago
Jeff Morgan

Hi Aaron
I am really sorry to hear about your Dad. It’s an incredibly difficult event to live with. We're grateful that you have shared your experience and reason to Mo as it is talking openly about physical and mental health struggles that we can make a difference and help men open up and seek the help they need.
I’m impressed and amazed at the physical challenge you have set yourself and your progress to date. Not to mention the fact you have smashed your fundraising target by over $500 and we’re not at the end of the month yet. Thank you for your support and the conversations you're having. You’re making a difference
Jeff MoHQ

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