Emma-Leigh Heighway knows first-hand the power of running.
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Exercise, and running in particular, has always been her way of dealing with any challenge in her life.
And, as area manager for Anytime Fitness gyms in Greenhills, Thornton, Newcastle West, Kotara, Rutherford and Edgeworth, she knows how valuable exercise is in keeping members of the community not only mentally and physically healthy but also connected.
"We know that exercise is really good for endorphins," Heighway said. "They say music, exercise and laughter are the three most important things and we can give people those within the gym."
It is those community connections she really wants to emphasise as the Adamstown 33-year-old plays a leading role in Anytime Fitness's Tread as One campaign this week to raise funds and awareness for R U OK? - a suicide prevention charity that aims to start life-changing conversations.
Anytime Fitness and R U OK? are inviting all Australians to Tread As One between May 15-22.
Participants can walk, run or even dance on a treadmill to clock up as many kilometres as possible with hopes of raising $650,000 for suicide prevention with conversations and connections along the way.
Money raised will help produce free resources on how to navigate a conversation with someone you're worried about, and travel to remote and rural Australia to ensure the R U OK? message reaches all Australians.
From May 15 to May 23, Heighway is aiming to clock up 160km on her own. That started with the Ultra Trail Australia 100km event in the Blue Mountains on May 15-16 then she will run 10km at each of the six gyms she manages on consecutive days.
There will also be two area events on May 22 - one at Anytime Fitness Newcastle West and another at Anytime Fitness Thornton.
"From Saturday to the following Sunday we're counting kilometres with the aim of getting each group of three gyms to hit 6500 kilometres because there's 65,000 Australians attempt to commit suicide each year," Heighway said.
"In the years we've done it before, we've been able to align with all sorts of different members, just having a really good yarn about all sorts of things.
"It's just a really nice way to create friendships within our members as well, which always goes a long way to find out if everything is OK."
Anytime Fitness members across Australia can check in with their local participating clubs to see what they are planning throughout Tread as One week and if they are holding a special in-club event on May 22 where people can come together to run their final kilometres.
"People can set their own targets," Heighway said. "They can take part in the park, the streets or on the treadmill. We've invited non-members to come in and take part as well.
"You don't have to donate but we'd like people to donate to take part. We have the treadasone.com.au site you can donate through or you can do a gold coin donation in club."
For Australians that don't have access to a treadmill at Anytime Fitness, they can can complete the Tread as One challenge at home or outdoors.
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Send your health and fitness news to r.valentine@austcommunitymedia.com.au.
Renee Valentine is a journalist, qualified personal trainer and mother of three.