Jack Ahearn, then 17, arrived on the Island of the Gods on May 1, 2016, to check into a local drug rehabilitation center.
Although some details of that day escaped his memory, Ahearn, who had been addicted to meth for years, knew that this decision was what he needed to change his life.
“I was a broken teenager who had lost all control over his life and was causing great harm to everyone around him. I suffered tremendously and was on the verge of going to jail or dying,” Ahearn said in an interview with Coconut Baliadding that he reached rock bottom on April 22 of the same year.
As a child, Ahearn was exceptionally gifted at sport, so much so that he considered pursuing a career in cricket or the Australian Football League (AFL). However, a drug addiction dragged him down and, as Ahearn said, he wasted all his opportunities as he turned to the tumultuous grip of methamphetamine at just 14 years old.
“(I thought) drugs would remain my sport,” he said.
After four years of battling drug addiction and the resulting devastation in his life, Ahearn and his family came to the decision that rehabilitation was the most appropriate solution.
Ahearn, now 25, underwent an extensive long-term treatment program for his addiction. Eventually, he moved into a field role, dedicating himself to helping others who found themselves in the same precarious situation he once found himself in.
It is said that drug addicts, including those in recovery, are creatures of habit. Ahearn himself found something that allowed him to create structure and routine in his daily life: running. As a gifted athlete, it turned out he had the skills to run (“I’m okay in that area,” he humbly remarked) and he decided to use it, not only as a support tool for one’s own well-being, but also to help others.
While at the rehabilitation center in 2016, Ahearn met Sydney-born Nick Royan, 36, and the two became best friends despite the age difference. Royan’s story resonated through the bustling streets of Sydney, shadowed by a gambling maze and a stint behind bars.
Royan shared that he hit rock bottom at the age of 28 after 14 years of drugs, gambling, prison, and constant danger and worry for his family and friends.
“One day my father called me and told me that I was no longer welcome in the family and that I was harming the health and well-being of the family,” Royan recalled. He said his father also told him, “If and when you need help, let me know.” »
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Royan briefly returned to Australia in 2020. Around the same time, Ahearn decided to raise money to help people who haven’t been able to put food on their table during the pandemic, fleeing Lovina beach on the north coast. from Bali to Canggu.
In September 2020, Ahearn ended up making enough money to distribute food to 200,000 people at the time.
Ahearn’s adventures, particularly the fun and fulfillment he received – as well as the impact – inspired Royan to get involved.
From there was born Shuffle & Strides. Naturally, Ahearn came to represent “progress” because of his athletic prowess.
Royan, on the other hand, was the complete opposite.
“Surely not!” he said impulsively when Coconut Bali asked him if he had any experience in sports like Ahearn.
“I was doing absolutely nothing with my life, by which I mean I was high most of the time.”
In 2021, Royan’s friend challenged him to run a total of 150 kilometers in a month for a reward of IDR 10 million. Royan didn’t think it was a daunting task since it only amounted to 5 kilometers per day.
“So I put on my shoes and started running 5 kilometers only to find out I couldn’t even run 1 kilometer,” he said with a smile.
“I had just finished a failed 150km in a month, but I thought maybe I could go for a walk in Bali when I got back. I presented the idea to Jack and it went from there,” he added.
Although he didn’t love the activity itself, Royan fell in love with another aspect of running: a supportive community.
“I love waking up in the morning, driving to the running club, watching the sunrise, having my cup of coffee, meeting new people or seeing familiar faces,” Royan said.
“From there, Nick and I thought we should raise money for a mental health charity,” Ahearn added. “We found that there weren’t a lot of people that we aligned with and decided to start our own business and offer something that we thought could help a lot of people.”
Mental Health
According to data from the Indonesian Ministry of Health, 6.1 percent of Indonesians aged 15 and above have suffered from mental health disorders. It means that 19 million people in Indonesia suffer from emotional and mental health problems.
Furthermore, at least 12 million people (aged 15 and over) suffered from depression in 2018according to a study conducted by Basic Health Research (Riskesdas).
Sari Dewi, a lawyer from Jakarta who moved to Bali in 2016, is aware of the stigma surrounding mental health issues in Indonesia. This is why she saw the virtue in Shuffle & Strides and was instrumental in the formation and functioning of the community.
“I always like activities that involve a lot of people, whether in sports groups or social groups, with the aim of helping others and benefiting others,” said Sari. Bali coconut.
“Mental health is not a topic or understanding often discussed by groups and families in Indonesia. With Shuffle & Strides, we want the Indonesian community and family to not feel ashamed or consider it taboo to talk about mental health topics.
Ahearn agrees, adding that mental health is a highly taboo subject in Indonesia.
“Australia has a better system, but it’s still not up to par. What Australia offers is education and training that is accessible to the public so that they can better support those around them, while reducing the stigma attached to this subject. This is why we do what we do, to reduce stigma, raise awareness and provide real services that help change the perception of mental health and help those who struggle get the life they deserve,” said Ahearn .
Shuffle & Strides run-walk clubs are held twice a week in different locations. It’s a safe space where everyone (you can just walk slowly if you want) can socialize and develop new friendships.
Currently, the group has 700 active members in Bali. It also has branches in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara and Manado, North Sulawesi.
The community also regularly hosts special group events and fundraisers in hopes of supporting mental health awareness in Indonesia, as well as working closely with other charities in the country.
“The biggest challenges are making the charity self-sustaining in the long term, finding suitable volunteers or workers,” admitted Royan.
Criticism of voluntourism and allegations of a “white savior complex” are not new to Bali. In response, Ahearn and Royan said they are simply focused on doing the best they can with and for the community.
“For me, Indonesia and the community saved me. So I just want to give back to him,” Royan said.
For Ahearn, who recently completed a 24-hour, 170-kilometer non-stop run on the Finn’s Recreation Club football field in Berawa (an event dubbed a “lapathon”) on September 16-17, which raised $800 million IDR ($51,798) to provide free mental services. When it comes to health education, the most important thing is to continue the work that the community is doing.
“I am convinced that what we do is based on strong values, we do it out of love for Bali and its inhabitants and out of a desire to help people in difficulty. We are not paid and never will be, our mission is to change the perception of mental health,” Ahearn said.
“If anyone thinks we have white savior complexes… no problem. We can always find another person who is happy with the work we can do. More love, less hate.
