‘Backpacking Poms’ Raise Money For Men’s Mental Health

On Tuesday 7^th April ‘Backpacking Poms’ Joe Taylor and Isaac Hirsch arrived in Ayr, passing through the Burdekin on their epic mission to raise funds for Talk2MeBro, a charity dedicated to improving men’s mental health through connection, conversation, and education.

The two young Brits started their journey in Newcastle and will be cycling 17,000 kilometers around the Australian Coastline, sharing their adventure online and raising awareness and money for their cause – one close to both of their hearts.  

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“We’ve seen how many men are taught to “tough it out,” to bottle things up, and to keep moving no matter how heavy life becomes,” the pair shared.  

“We’ve seen friends, family members, and people we admire fight unseen battles — and tragically, some have been lost far too soon.”

“We don’t want men to feel like they have to fight alone anymore. This ride is our way of proving that vulnerability is strength, not weakness. That speaking up takes courage. That connection can save lives.”

Joe and Isaac are forthcoming about their own struggles with mental health, and how meaningful the challenge is to them.

For Joe, “On the outside, everything may have looked fine — but internally there were battles that felt constant and exhausting. Feelings of emptiness, pressure, and not knowing how to properly express what was going on.”  

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“Like many men, it often felt easier to stay quiet than to speak up. To push through instead of opening up. But staying silent only makes the weight heavier.”

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Isaac’s own battle came when he lost multiple close family members and was shook deeply by the loss, finding he didn’t know how to process or deal with his grief.  

That’s why the mission was founded. The two backpackers wanted to help others where they themselves struggled and get conversation going surrounding men’s mental health.

“For most of our lives, neither of us have truly felt fulfilled,” they stated.

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“Deep down, we’ve always known we were meant for something bigger than ourselves — a challenge that would push us physically, mentally, and emotionally to our absolute limits.

“That’s why we’ve decided to take on one of the toughest adventures we can imagine.”

Joe and Isaac have seen huge support from locals so far on their journey, being fed and housed, and even offered a free boat trip down the road in Airlie Beach. You can follow along, reach out, or donate to the cause on the pair’s socials:@the.bikepackingpoms

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1- Isaac Hirsch (left) and Joe Taylor (right) were seen off a Talk2MeBro representative in Newcastle on March 1st. Photo source: LinkedIn

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