The Long Walk Back to the Shed

The Long Walk Back to the Shed I'm Craig, a local from Newcastle NSW trying to raise awareness for mental health within my local football and personal community.

With the help of Talk2MeBro, I am completing a 230km walk in August 2026. See updates below for more details on how to help!

AND THAT’S A WRAP! What better way to recover after walking 230km than a pub feed at Great Northern Hotel and some chocc...
11/08/2026

AND THAT’S A WRAP!

What better way to recover after walking 230km than a pub feed at Great Northern Hotel and some choccie cake made by Millers Bakery Warners Bay (cake topper by Cake Cake Cake) !!

Thanks to Sharee for reaching out to offer this wonderful cake. In a room full of hungry football players, if you blinked you missed out! 🍰

Thanks to one of our sponsors Great Northern Hotel always for your support and hospitality!

LAKE MACQUARIE CITY ✅The final stop.What started as a walk for mental health became something so much bigger than I ever...
09/08/2026

LAKE MACQUARIE CITY ✅

The final stop.

What started as a walk for mental health became something so much bigger than I ever could have imagined.

Through the sore feet, exhaustion and moments of doubt came the biggest laughs, the best conversations, the most incredible support and memories I’ll carry forever.

Somehow, together, we raised $12,700 for Talk2mebro and this number is still climbing.

$12,700 to help start conversations.
$12,700 to remind someone they’re not alone.
$12,700 towards making a difference.

The Long Walk Back to the Shed was never just about walking the distance. It was about the people. The amount of connections we’ve made, and the amount of people who have shared their own journey with mental health along the way has more than solidified why we did this.

I’m exhausted, emotional and incredibly proud. And most of all, I’m so grateful to every single person who walked, donated, shared our story, checked in, cheered us on or simply believed in what we were doing.

I have more to say, but I want to sit on this feeling a little bit longer before I thank everyone properly.

Until the next one… ❤️

In loving memory of Michelle Welton.
Shell, Mum, Nanny, Grandma.
With us in everything we do, and forever in our hearts.

MentalHealthMatters

TORONTO / AWABA ✅Thanks to Toronto Awaba Football Club ⚽️ for having us! Everyone was pumped for the last 10km, the end ...
09/08/2026

TORONTO / AWABA ✅

Thanks to Toronto Awaba Football Club ⚽️ for having us! Everyone was pumped for the last 10km, the end is within reach.

Thanks to Steve and the girls squad from Lake Macquarie City FC for joining in on the walk! This part was also special as my family joined in (Dad, brothers and father in law) and I strapped on the boots to do the last 10km to finish what we started.

RATHMINES ✅Thanks for the hospitality Westlakes Wildcats Football Club and the free hats 😉 The long slog back to Toronto...
09/08/2026

RATHMINES ✅

Thanks for the hospitality Westlakes Wildcats Football Club and the free hats 😉

The long slog back to Toronto begins.. but at least Brendan Wass brought the speaker for phat beats.

📷 Kaz Melinz

NEWCASTLE CROATIA ✅230km. And somehow, this journey became so much bigger than me. I couldn’t complete this part of the ...
09/08/2026

NEWCASTLE CROATIA ✅

230km. And somehow, this journey became so much bigger than me.

I couldn’t complete this part of the walk myself, but my incredible crew did it on my behalf and I couldn’t be more proud of every single one of them.

This walk was never just about the kilometres, the sore feet or getting from one place to another. It’s about showing up for each other, having the hard conversations, and reminding those around us that they don’t have to walk through the hard stuff alone.

The Long Walk Back has become everyone’s journey. Because the reality is, mental health affects all of us in some way. We all carry our own battles, our own stories and our own reasons for needing a place to breathe, reset and keep moving forward.

I’m so proud that we can all do our little bit and use The Long Walk Back as our own form of comfort, connection and healing.

To my crew, thank you for carrying this journey when I couldn’t. I’m beyond proud of you all.

And to my brother Jay Welton and Sarah Robson I’m especially proud of you both for continuing to walk on. This was never just my walk. This is OUR walk. OUR journey. OUR long walk back.

Thank you everyone who completed Michelle’s Leg. I’m sure she was with us all in some way today and would have been immensely proud. 🤍

VALENTINE & WARNERS BAY ✅The crew has continued on this morning for Michelle’s leg. Thanks to David from Valentine FC fo...
08/08/2026

VALENTINE & WARNERS BAY ✅

The crew has continued on this morning for Michelle’s leg. Thanks to David from Valentine FC for showing up this morning and joining the walk to Warners Bay.

Thanks to Warners Bay FC for putting on such a wonderful breakfast this morning. Thanks to Cameron Lodge for organising.

Thanks to Luke from Talk2mebro for joining in this morning as well. I hope I did you proud!

My brother Jay Welton and Sarah Robson have decided to continue on the remainder of the walk to finish all Clubs as intended. I feel proud to have such a great group of people around me who pick me up when I need it most.

We will be at Lake Macquarie City FC this afternoon from 2.30pm if everyone can join us!

STOP 27 - KAHIBAH ✅Thank you for the hospitality Kahibah Football Club Opened the fields so I could have a shower and so...
08/08/2026

STOP 27 - KAHIBAH ✅

Thank you for the hospitality Kahibah Football Club Opened the fields so I could have a shower and something to eat.

This was the point of no return.

STOP 25 & 26 - CHARLESTOWN & DUDLEY ✅The point of no return!
08/08/2026

STOP 25 & 26 - CHARLESTOWN & DUDLEY ✅

The point of no return!

STOP 24 - KOTARA ✅Thanks for meeting us last night Kotara South Zone League and bringing the warm tea for a needed refre...
08/08/2026

STOP 24 - KOTARA ✅

Thanks for meeting us last night Kotara South Zone League and bringing the warm tea for a needed refresh.

We were on struggle street at this point.

ATTENTION ❗️For Craig’s own health & wellbeing, The Long Walk will finish tonight. At our final break stop, Craig’s phys...
08/08/2026

ATTENTION ❗️

For Craig’s own health & wellbeing, The Long Walk will finish tonight. At our final break stop, Craig’s physical health had declined and although he decided to push on, he could not continue to Swansea.

Craig has walked 164km in 40 hours and has pushed his body to its absolute limit. While Craig is devastated he did not finish his goal of 230km - we are all extremely proud of his efforts. He has raised so much awareness over the last few weeks and done an amazing job getting this far.

Michelle’s Leg from Croudace Bay to Northern NSW Football will still go ahead tomorrow morning from 5:15am in honour of Craig’s mum. We hope to see you there! ❤️

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Newcastle, NSW

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