I'm fundraising to create options for those who need it
In order to raise funds for mental health charity 20Talk I'm going to sit in a 2 metre square box for 20 hours with no technology and no talking. Yep, you heard that right. This outrageous challenge is going to push me mentally to the limits. All I will have is my own thoughts, a journal and a chair to sit on.
So why am I doing this?
We have all been touched in some way or another by the reality of mental health. It can be dark, lonely, and confronting.
Structurally, the statistics are still alarming..
- Suicide still remains the leading cause of death for young people aged 15-44.
- Only 2% of mental health funding goes towards prevention (Mental Health Commission 2022)
I'm completing the 20 Hours for 20Talk to turn these statistics around. Your contribution goes towards 20Talk's relatable prevention campaigns. They are a mental health charity that makes education cool and accessible, for young people by young people.
Your generous donations go towards:
- Every $300 puts a young person through a two-day Mental Health First Aid course
- Expanding 20Talk's online resources and 60,000+ social media community
- Running large-scale interactive mental health events
It just makes sense to support prevention. By improving mental health literacy, removing harmful stigma, and encouraging professional help-seeking we are preventing people from getting people into crisis in the first place.
Thank you for taking the time to read this post and for donating to the cause.
Have a good day!
My Achievements
Fundraising page
Updated Profile Pic
Added a Blog Post
Received 5 Donations
Reached Goal
Increased Target
My Updates
My why…
Tuesday 15th OctI’m not usually someone who shares the intimate details of my personal life online. What you typically see is a curated collection of positive moments—highlights that reflect the best parts of my journey. We’ve been conditioned by society to show the wins and hide the losses, to put on a brave face and keep going.
Over the past year, you might’ve seen me celebrate some big milestones—being promoted at work, marrying my husband, and enjoying an incredible honeymoon in Japan. These were some of the happiest moments of my life. But what you didn’t see, hidden behind those joyous posts, was that I was also living through my darkest days.
Last year, I lost my father. And amidst all those beautiful, life-changing moments, I was completely consumed by grief. The kind of grief that paralyzes you, makes it hard to breathe, hard to get out of bed, hard to focus on anything other than the aching absence of someone who meant everything to you. While I was smiling in photos, I was breaking inside. There were days when the loss was so overwhelming that it felt like I was drowning in sorrow, unable to see past the pain.
Grief didn’t just follow me around quietly—it engulfed me, shaping every moment of my life, from my wedding day to my work achievements. It became the backdrop to my happiest memories, casting a shadow over what should have been pure joy. And it wasn’t something I could push away or ignore. It demanded my attention, my energy, my strength, and even with the best support system around me, it was one of the hardest battles I’ve ever faced.
The mental and emotional toll of losing my father showed me just how critical accessible mental health support is. Even with a full-time job and a supportive network, the cost of therapy and mental health care was staggering, and it deterred me from getting the help I needed right away. It made me think: if I’m struggling with access, how many others are facing this alone, without the resources to get through their grief and other struggles?
That’s why my decision to get involved with 20Talk’s 20-hour fundraiser is so deeply personal. Grief has become a significant part of my mental health journey, and organizations like 20Talk, which focus on prevention and early intervention, are doing the kind of work that is desperately needed. Most mental health funding in Australia goes toward crisis management, but we need to do more to support people before they reach breaking point.
Through this fundraiser, I’m not just raising money; I’m hoping to spark conversations about mental health, about grief, and about the importance of support when we need it most. This is my way of turning pain into purpose, of standing up for the people who, like me, have faced their darkest days and felt alone in their struggle.
On November 16th, I’ll be taking part in something deeply symbolic and personal: spending 20 hours in complete silence, confined to a 2x2m square. This experience will be a powerful way for me to confront the solitude and silence that grief brought into my life—the moments where words failed, and I felt utterly alone in my pain. I’ll be facing that silence head-on, not just as a way to reflect on my own journey, but to raise awareness for others who are suffering in silence. My hope is that by taking on this challenge, I can help create a world where fewer people face their mental health struggles in isolation—where their journeys are more vocal, and their voices are heard. This isn’t just about me; it’s about all of us finding strength in vulnerability and making sure support is available when it’s needed most.
I hope you’ll join me in supporting this cause. Together, we can make sure that no one has to face their grief, or any mental health battle, without the help they deserve.
ShareThank you to my Sponsors
$108
Max Gordon-hall
$105.50
Brooke Aniseko
$100
Alicia Mitchell
Karly, You are truly such an incredible strong woman. I admire your courage and strength. This is a cause close to my heart also. I’m so proud of you 💜 xx
$52.75
Cindy
Thank you for sharing your journey. I love you
$52.75
Westley, Sherrisse & The Boys X
Sending you lots of love xx
$52.75
Shae
Beautiful Karly, it takes alot of courage to be so open. What an amazing cause. Love x
$52.75
Elle
What a beautiful and powerful thing to do, so proud of you xx
$52.75
Julia Sharp
$52.75
Celeste Ochoa
You are amazing Karly 🫵🦾
$52.75
Lucy Appleyard
Wow Karly, I'm so impressed. Sending love and strength xxx
$52.75
Maddison Barter
So proud of you! You’re amazing! 💜
$52.75
Toni Boundy
Well done I know dad would be proud XOXO
$52.75
Mario Dubuisson
I don’t really know much bout mental illness but I’m so proud of what you doing Karly it not much but sometimes little heip
$50
Verushka Paludi
You are beautiful & amazing! Your dad is very proud xxx
$26.38
Carla Mazaroli
xxxx
$26.38
Holly T
Always have been an inspiration and always will be!! Proud of you girl!!
$26.38
Jackie Hadzic
You’re amazing, proud of you x
$26.38
Anonymous
$26.38
Ron Hol
Big hugs xo
$26.38
Jake S
Incredible and so so worth a cause.
$25
Karly Vancuylenberg
$25
Grief is the last act of love we have to give to those we loved. I feel your pain and I think about Sam everyday and what he had taught me throughout my younger years. Among a lot of other things, he was a man for raising money for a cause that was close to his heart. He would always take one more step around the oval to ensure that enough funds were being raised at Relay for Life. Take honour in continuing his legacy of fundraising and raising funds for causes that you believe in. You will reach your fundraising goal. Please reach out anytime.