Erica Ryan

The fundraising habit was born

Almost three years ago, I shaved my head for the World’s Greatest Shave alongside one of my closest friends & raised more than $10,500 for people affected by blood cancer.

It was a pretty big thing to do at the time & since then, I’ve committed to taking part in a fundraiser every year for a cause I care about.

This year, I’m taking part in 20Hours for 20Talk.

I’ll be spending 20 hours sitting inside a 2m x 2m square, with nothing but a sleeping bag, a camp chair, a journal & three meals.

In complete silence. No phone or watch to track the time. No distractions to keep me occupied. No escaping for a little walk or run when I inevitably start questioning everything.

Just me, my thoughts with an incredible amount of time alone to sit & think.

While voluntarily sitting in a 2m x 2m square for 20 hours might sound slightly unhinged, there’s a really important reason behind it.

I’m raising money for 20Talk, whose mission is to normalise conversations around mental health & give young Australians the tools they need to thrive.

Right now, 98% of mental health funding goes towards crisis intervention, while only 2% goes towards prevention.

20Talk is working to change that by focusing on proactive, relatable & accessible mental health support, helping young people build the tools & confidence to look after their mental health before they reach crisis point.

That’s something I really believe is worth supporting.

So, this year, instead of shaving my head or walking 150km in a month, I’m giving up 20 hours of my time, my distractions & frankly, my ability to casually potter about, to sit in silence.

If you can spare a few dollars, I’d love for you to donate to my fundraiser.

Whether it’s $5, $20 or whatever you’re comfortable with, every donation helps support a cause that is working to make conversations around mental health more normal, accessible & proactive for young Australians.

If you can’t donate, sharing this page is just as appreciated.

Three years ago, I shaved my head. This year, I’m sitting in a tiny square in complete silence.

Help me make my 20 hours count.

Thank you for getting behind me & for continuing to humour my annual fundraising side quests xx

20 Hours of Silence for Youth Mental Health.

I’m taking on the 20 Hours for 20Talk Challenge which will see me sitting in a 2×2 metre square in a warehouse, alongside 400 other participants, with no talking and no technology for 20 hours. All I’ll have are the essentials I bring with me: a chair, sleeping mat, journal, water, and food. No distractions.