Terror survivor plans walk for peace
It may feel like we’re living in paradise — and for most of us on the Coromandel and Hauraki, we really are. As the national news is dominated by what took a nasty turn from a festival-style protest at the Beehive — where a number of Coromandel folk are among those calling for an end to vaccine mandates — there’s an important anniversary coming up.
On March 15 it will be three years since New Zealand’s worst terrorist attack in which 51 innocent people lost their lives.
The Christchurch terrorist attacks remind us how fragile our peace is in New Zealand and how important it is for us all to keep a check on our mental health and wellbeing.
Where are you putting your focus? Perspective always helps me.
A media release came through my inbox last week about perhaps the bravest man I’ve heard about for a long time.
Temel Atacocugu miraculously survived the terror attack on Christchurch’s Al Noor mosque on 15 March 2019, after being shot nine times.
He says the trauma of March 15 will be with him forever.
“I have PTSD, and have lost count of the number of operations that I have had, and am still having. Ten of them were major. But I also feel I have to stay strong to help in any way that I can to make the future better. It is my personal mission to empower others to reject extremism, war and violence of any kind,” the shrapnel-filled survivor says.
Temel will walk the gunman’s route from Dunedin to Christchurch from March 1.
His goal is to help in his long journey of healing himself physically and mentally and to raise awareness of children’s mental health struggles and money for mental health charity I Am Hope.
His walk is timed to arrive in Christchurch for the third anniversary of the attacks.
Funds raised through Givealittle campaigns during his walk will go to three charities — Gumboot Friday, The Child Cancer Foundation and Save the Children.
“Mental health, particularly with regard to children, is a cause very dear to my heart,” says Temel.
He will have a support crew of two who will document the challenging journey, plus a number of I Am Hope youth ambassadors, walking some distance behind.
“My aim from this walk is to bring communities together through a better understanding of each other. I want to encourage others to give from their hearts, show strength and resilience in the face of adversity, and make their own personal contributions to a peaceful future.”
If you wish to contribute you can visit https://givealittle. co.nz/fundraiser/temels-walkfor-peace