Corey McKernan walks a marathon a day to encourage Melburnians in lockdown

Background

On 12 May 2021, in the midst of Australia’s lockdown due to Covid-19, former AFL and dual premiership player with North Melbourne, Corey McKernan, posted on social media: “How can I help anyone doing it tough (in lockdown) or boost you to get moving?”

With this, Corey created Walk With Me Online, free, live walks over Zoom where participants are encouraged to get moving with an online community, and listen to Corey and leaders of sport, business and entertainment speak on how to thrive through adversity.

Walk With Me Online has since grown to also include an interview series and live events around Australia within its core pillars of momentum, connection and development.

Melbourne Lockdown 4.0

With the announcement of Melbourne’s fourth lockdown being extended through to 10 June, Corey wants to show his hometown that they can get through challenging times by doing something that will challenge him: Between 5 to 10 June 2021, Corey will walk a marathon (42kms) a day.

“Now living on the Sunshine Coast I’m somewhat removed from the hardship of the additional lockdowns on the people of Melbourne. But having family and friends living through it, and hearing the Melbourne Walk With Me Online’s participants doing it tough, I wanted to do something difficult to show them my support and encourage them to do something positive.

“Walking a marathon a day will be tough. I will have to get up around 4am to do part of the kms required, then continue later in the day to work around my other commitments, but this isn’t anything compared to the sacrifices people are making in Melbourne.

“I will be sharing my six day journey over social media and will aim to go live at different times for people to join and say hi.

“I’m encouraging others to join me and get moving and/or to set a challenge for themselves over the next week and to tag Walk With Me Online on socials. And if my actions help someone realise they can thrive through adversity, I will have achieved more than six marathons in six days.”

For media enquiries, please contact either Corey at cm@walkwithmeonline.com or Megan Barrow at megan@joella.com.au.

With thanks to Walk With Me Online's Partners National Make Good Solutions, GMS Staffing and Oz Equipment Rentals.