Turning My Weight Loss Into Something Bigger
I’ve decided to do something a little different with my weight loss this year.
Over the next three months, for every 100 grams I lose, I’m going to donate $10 of my own money to raise funds and awareness for men’s mental health through MensLine Australia.
This cause is deeply personal to me.
Towards the later years of school, I struggled heavily with anxiety and depression. At the time, I didn’t really understand what anxiety was or why I was feeling the way I did. A teacher recommended I speak with the school counsellor, and those conversations ended up making a huge difference. Through multiple sessions in my final year of school, I learnt how anxiety worked, how to manage it and how to deal with the negative thoughts I was experiencing. Thankfully, over time, I was able to get to a much better place and have since learnt to manage my anxiety fairly well.
A few years later, mental health became much more personal to me in a way I never expected.
My sister's partner was a man named Grantley. He was an incredible guy and became a really close part of our family. He and my sister were living together, studying anaesthetics and planning their future together. They were talking about marriage and kids and had built a life that seemed to be heading in one direction.
I knew Grantley had OCD, but if I’m being honest, I didn’t really understand the condition or how much it could affect someone.
As his studies and everything else going on in his life became more stressful, his mental health deteriorated. I didn't know at the time how bad things had become. He had been struggling with suicidal thoughts, seeing psychologists and psychiatrists to try and help fight his mental battle.
On 26 May 2025, Grantley died by suicide while he was working in Canberra.
My sister found out when police came to her workplace after she had requested a welfare check.
I don't think you can ever really understand the impact something like that has on a family until it happens to you.
Every part of my sister's life has been affected in ways that I know will stay with her for the rest of her life. In a way, I lost a version of my sister too.
In the weeks and months afterwards, I travelled back and forth between Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra and Albury trying to support her and the rest of my family while also trying to make sense of everything myself.
Then, in the middle of all of this, I found out something I had never known about my own family.
My nonno, who passed away before I was born, had also died by suicide.
Growing up, I had always been told that his heart stopped. My parents had never told me the truth because they wanted to protect me as a child and didn't want me to think differently about him. But age-appropriate discussions about mental illness are important to help understand what is going on around you.
Finding that out while everything else was happening was difficult to process. It made me realise that suicide wasn't just something that had suddenly entered my life. It had affected my family before I was even born.
The months afterwards were difficult. I wasn't in a great place physically or mentally and I had lost a lot of the motivation I previously had for training and nutrition.
A friend of mine, Kareem, who coaches people with their health and physique, helped me get some direction back. I decided to focus on myself and made getting into shape a goal.
Over the next five months, I lost more than 13 kg.
That journey gave me something to focus on again and helped me get myself into a much better place physically and mentally.
But probably the biggest thing I've taken from everything that's happened isn't about training or weight loss.
It's how much people around me are struggling.
Since everything happened, I've had a lot more friends come to me and talk about things they're dealing with themselves. Anxiety, depression, OCD, and other mental health and personal issues. I think part of the reason they're comfortable talking to me is because I've been more open about my own experiences and have tried to make it clear that there's nothing wrong with admitting that you're struggling.
That's when I really started to appreciate just how big an issue men's mental health is. On average, 9 people die by suicide everyday, and 7 of those people are men.
There are a lot of guys who are struggling but don't talk about it. Sometimes they don't know how to talk about it, sometimes they don't want to burden anyone else, and sometimes they probably don't even realise how much they need help.
I can't change what happened to Grantley or take away what my sister and family have been through.
But I can try to do something positive with my own experience.
After spending this year focusing on building myself back up, putting on some size and muscle through a bulk. It's now time to start cutting the weight back down again.
But this time, I wanted to do more than just lose the weight. So I thought why not use that as an opportunity to raise some money and awareness at the same time.
For every 100 grams I lose, I'll donate $10 of my own money to this fundraiser.
Hopefully, it can raise some money for an organisation that helps men who are struggling, but more importantly, I hope it starts conversations.
I've set the fundraising goal at $2,605, to represent the date we lost Grantley - 26/05. It's a small way for me to keep his memory connected to something positive and to use the date that changed so many lives forever to help support other men who may be struggling.
Mental health is never going to be something we completely solve. But if talking about my own experiences makes someone else feel a little more comfortable talking about theirs, or encourages someone to check in on a mate, or helps fund a few more crisis phone-calls then I think it's worth doing.
So that's what this fundraiser is about for me.
Looking after ourselves, looking after our mates, and making it a little easier for people to speak up when they're not okay.
If you'd like to support the fundraiser, I'd really appreciate it. And if you can't donate, that's completely fine too, sharing this or making dedicated time to check in on someone you care about can make a difference.
My Achievements
Updated Profile Pic
Shared Fundraising Page
Made a Personal Donation
First Donation
50% to Goal
Reached Goal
My Updates
Week 2 - update
Saturday 5th Sep Down 900grams this week 💪🏻 another 90 dollars to the fundraiser. Everyone’s support has been immense! We’ve nearly hit 10k, let’s keep it up 💚 ShareThank you to my Sponsors
$540
Kate & Cali
$540
Jane And Killian
For Grantley, all his loved ones affected and all others suffering from mental health isolation
$540
Troy Freebairn
Keep up the great work, John. See you at the beach
$540
Dr Jinesh Patel
$540
Anonymous
It’s amazing what you are doing an so brave to talk openly about such a difficult issue We have been touched by your story and happy to help!
$500
Nick A
A great cause that we’re proud to support
$500
Kareem Raslan
So proud of you bro and I am so glad that I get to be part of this incredible effort. Keep pushing bro, I am always in your corner
$333
Small Fry
Our favourite number to kickstart the drive 💚
$269.13
Valia Iaydjieva
This touched me in so many ways...Thanks for doing it, John. For Grantley, your sister, everyone who is going through a difficult period in their lives. The doctors who smile and reassure us but suffer and cry at night...Awareness and support are key.
$260.50
Grizzly Norris
Thanks for sharing so many personal details - sharing is something as men we don’t do well
$255
Michelle Chong
Thanks for sharing this. In 2020, (255 was the day I received the phone call), I lost a friend and ex partner to suicide. We all deal with grief differently, and almost intuitively, I went into deep isolation. I was fortunate to have people around me who held on tightly and surrounded me with support. I applaud your courage in turning such a difficult experience into something meaningful that will help others. I’ve always enjoyed working with Marie, and I sincerely hope everyone is doing okay.
$216.50
Chris Rees
$216.50
Rick
Well done John. A great cause and a great support. Will follow with interest.
$216.50
Nathan Blakely
You’re doing a great thing for yourself and your sister. She has a great ally in myself
$216.50
Cameron
$200
Jeff Dickson
If Marie's name is attached to it - I will definitely contribute. I come from a small town (too) - life is simple.
$200
Nat Bella
$200
Sharon Chen
$200
Matilda Gerard
Super Proud of you! We love and miss you Grantley 💚💚
$163.43
Shanelle Wijesuriya
Good luck John and thank you for your honesty. I am sure your words will strike a chord with many people and provide light through dark times. We wish you and Marie the best.
$163.43
Youngseo Lee
I leave my heart to you, John, and Marie.
$163.43
Dean Kew
$163.43
Haran Nathan
Thinking of your family ❤️
$161.63
Han Kim
$155
Hospital Bake Sale
Baking, buying & eating sweet treats in honour of our favourite and deeply missed sweet tooth 🥹
$140
John Palumbo
Week 1 - 1.4kg down
$110
Happy Birthday Mim
To get us to a nice lucky $7K - in honour of Grantley and Mim's beautiful friendship - full of 100s of mid-week vibe checks; deep, challenging and genuinely therapeutic conversations; co-presidency of the Flossie & Buster appreciation society; coffee, giggles, chocolate, incredible music - and so much more <3
$106.75
Kosta
Love your work man! <3
$106.75
Mandi
You are truly the most supportive and amazing little brother to my dearest Marie! Thankyou for being her bro through all the good, the bad and unthinkable moments she has had to endure without her beloved x Love u John!
$106.75
Lara Tickell
$106.75
Millie Burggraf
$106.75
Anonymous
$106.75
Donna Jenkins
What an inspiring young man you are!
$106.75
Adam Smith
Amazing work mate and for an amazing cause, mental health is so so important ❤️❤️ keep it up
$106.75
John B
$106.75
Josh De Haas
Amazing work. Mac and cheese balls after the cut.
$106.75
Steven M
Spreading such an important message. Much love 🫶🫶
$106.75
Nicolina Palumbo
Outstanding John🙏🏻♥️✨ Love your Mamma Nickie-O-Lina & Mamma of Small Fry and Nonna of Flossy & Mother-in-law of Grantley & Daughter of Nonno Angelo🙏🏻♥️✨United We Will Stand no matter how shattered & broken we are or how torturous this crippling mental illness is! ♥️🙏🏻✨ Eternally grateful for the love, kindness & support that surrounds us all🙏🏻♥️✨
$106.75
Michael Cukierman
$106.75
Sue Ottewell
Such a thoughtful thing to do John. I’m sure Marie is so thankful & proud of you. I hope this helps you & Marie make something positive out of such a tragic loss. Amazing effort!! xox
$106.75
Mortgage Choice Currimundi
$106.75
Loran
Great idea, good luck. So glad Marie has just great support xx
$106.75
Vanita Bodhankar
$106.75
Haydn
$106.75
Eva Deutscher
$106.75
Noa
$106.75
Nicolina Palumbo
God Bless You Bello!
$106.75
Beedee
Good luck John. Thank you for sharing your story and being there for your sister.
$106.75
Adrian Passelli
Amazing cause bro ❤️❤️
$106.75
Anonymous
$106.75
Jordan C
Looking forward to the storm after all this ❤️
$106.75
Anonymous
$106.75
Maria Vinues Martínez
Never met Grantmey but I have met your sister and I hope noone has to go through what she went through.
$106.75
Zachary Rundell-gordon
$106.75
Bernd
$106.75
Kate & Cali
$106.75
Maria Galluccio
Well done John 💪 An incredibly important cause to raise money and awareness for 🧡
$106.75
Anonymous
$106.75
James Kavaleros
$106.75
Marcella
Small actions ripple John, crossing oceans. Chit-chatting with your sis and wishing your goal success.
$106.75
Montazar Kashif Alghita
Amazing cause brother, good job
$106.75
Mark Bellardino
❤️
$106
Flossie
$106 in honour of 1-06, aka Dad's favourite Fluffy Fry's birthday. He did everything in his power to provide for me, or 'Young Money' as he called me, in his absence; even though it has been drained by unnecessary drama I don't understand, I know he would want me to share with others that don't have a Fluffy Fry to comfort them in crisis. Don't worry Dad, I'm the most popular girl in the world with lots of you-approved toys, premium hypoallergenic food, fluffy & hooman friends, walks, cuddles, & grooms! Go Uncle John! Woof Woof! xx
$104.35
Donna G
Great stuff John, a good conversation to start! Well done, keep it up, love your videos. 🫶
$100
Philip Moore
$100
Ben C
Hope you’re well brother. Truly amazing what you’re doing ❤️❤️❤️
$100
David Papendorf
Good luck with this important initiative John.
$100
Jordan C
$100
John Palumbo
Week 7 and week 8 update 1kg $100 in
$100
Dna Nutrition
Love the work you’re doing brother and we’ll see you for another challenge!
$100
Andrew G
$100
Donatus Pannunzio
Gonna need new scharpes for all that cardio 💗
$100
Tilli Gerard
Proud of you 💚
$100
Filipe Santos Md
You got this!
$100
Anonymous
$100
Harrie
For anyone that struggles to talk about their head, we hear you, we’re with you, we love you. You are never alone xx
$100
Josh
$90
John Palumbo
Week 2 donation 900 grams down $90 dollars to the fundraiser
$82.13
Lara Both Palazzo
$80.33
Anonymous
couldn’t be more proud brother, keep it up 🩵
$80
John Palumbo
Week 3 update 800g down - 80 dollars 💵 to the fundraiser 💪🏻
$80
Ahida Aracely Velazquez Castillo
❤️
$80
John Palumbo
Week 9 update: down 800g that’s sits me 79.2kg and another $80 to the fundraiser 🫡
$67
Zenith
Legend
$67
Donatus
Go paloli stay swoli much love
$58.25
Michael G
Good stuff bro, good luck on the journey
$55.95
Aidan M
❤️❤️❤️
$55.95
Antony Parakkal
$55.95
Anonymous
Your bravery and vulnerability is inspirational. I can see why Grantley was so excited to gain a brother like you.
$55.95
Mariah Surace
I wish you the very best in your fundraiser! God bless you x
$55.95
Anonymous
$55.95
Jenna Patterson
$55.95
Sammy J
Inspirational Johnno, to put yourself out there, put your heart in your sleeve for the service of others. Grantley and your Non would be proud - (I hope you are of yourself too) 🙌❤️
$55.95
Brock
$55.95
M
Much love brother ❤️
$55.95
Caitlin C
Go John! Great cause and good luck with losing the weight. I'm sure G and your Nonna are looking down proudly.
$55.95
Anonymous
$55.95
David Frishling
$55.95
Tina O
Supporting a wonderful cause 🙏
$55.95
Amit Ramavat
$55.95
Con Pantelios
$55.95
Angelo Feltrin
Huge respect. Goodluck on your journey
$55.95
Anonymous
$55.95
Sam
$55.95
English
$55.95
Mim
Keep smashing it John! Here's a top up for such incredible consistency!!!!!
$55.95
Clemente
Thank you for raising awareness on something that often goes unnoticed. Good luck with this journey 🫶🏼
$55.95
Gongy
Yes bello! Doing us all proud, making a massive difference💙
$55.95
Ale
Proud of you mate 👏
$55.95
Jim Bainbridge
All power to you mate. Sending you all the strength and thoughts. You got this.
$55.95
Steven Mileto
$55.95
Jake Reeve
$55.95
Ayman Rachid
$55.95
Michael Wong
$55.95
Maria Vinues Martnez
Marie bakesale
$55.95
Dani
$55.95
Anonymous
$55.95
Nicola Duffy
💛
$55.95
Massimo
$55.95
Sue Baker
Such a great cause John. Congrats on putting yourself out there I’m sure you’ll help a lot of people 💜🩵💜🩵
$55.95
Anonymous
$55.95
Anonymous
$54.75
Coli
Paloli the goat ❤️
$54.75
Matthew Brown
$51
Liam
$50
Kaylee Jordan
$50
Pabs E
$50
Nadia Piccolo
Grantley would be so proud of you John. Keep up the inspirational work x
$50
Lauren Thaw
$50
Anonymous
$50
Emily Schultz
$50
Tj
For a good cause!
$50
Zak Zoina
Love your work, keep smashing it.
$50
Douglas Gerard
A great cause, keep it up mate 💪
$50
John Palumbo
Weight didn’t move but we keep donating 💪🏻
$50
Daniel S
$50
Kacey
In memory of Grantley, in support of his loved ones, and for a wonderful cause.
$50
Andrew Manov
$50
Anonymous
All the very best. What an important cause!
$50
Anads
Big ups
$50
Nicki Cambourn
A great cause, goodluck!
$50
Daga
You’re an inspiration to all of us! Love you man
$50
Sof K
Hi John, My sincere condolences to your Sister, Family and Grant's Family and friends. Devastating news to learn. In the past, I have also experienced this sad reality. It's great that you have managed to navigate through your personal issues too! Men are notorious for not looking after themselves in this space. Your efforts will help a lot of people. Hopefully my contribution helps. Cheers Sof. PS: Might see you all up at the range sometime 😉
$50
Alice Crompton
Yes John!! Very proud of you for doing this
$50
Anonymous
$50
Luke H
🐐
$50
Anonymous
$40
Tamara Pace
$40
Georgia Simeone
Go John xx
$35
Breton Devison
sending lots of love and support
$35
Trishant Limbu
Thankful for you speaking about mental health.
$34.40
Christos Bria
Love you bro xx
$34.40
Olivia Jobson
Amazing work John
$34
Lyna B
<3
$30
John Palumbo
Week 4 - 300g down $30 dollars in 💚
$30
Ye Yao
$30
Liv
$28.81
Anonymous
Good luck John!
$28.81
Anonymous
Yumbo <3
$28.81
Nussio Family
$28.81
Jonny
$28.81
Thomas D
Unreal John, great cause. So proud of you ❤️
$28.81
Amanda
SUch an important cause!
$28.81
Pravash Pradhan
$28.81
Phongy
Bless you ❤️
$28.81
Camila Rojas Sepúlveda
Best wishes!
$28.81
Rupert
🙏 great work
$28.81
Kelly Hillas
$28.81
Samuel
Love you man💙
$28.81
Anonymous
$28.81
Tania Loro Montin
$28.81
Hannah Roberts
$28.81
Nirupa Gounder
$28.81
Matthew Mckenna-barry
$28.81
Aimee Caruso
A great cause! Well done!
$28.81
Anonymous
$28.81
Alex Filipatos
$28.81
Mel
Very proud of you!
$28.81
Anonymous
Keep up the good fight.
$28.81
Adele
$28.81
Lisa Murphy
$28.81
David Klein
$28.81
Josh Ellwood
$28.81
Nikita Tziavaras
$28.81
Kate Lowry
$28.81
Saffron
$28.21
Louis Baigent
$28.21
Ramil Reyes
$25
Michael Sham
$25
Rosie
$25
Erin M
$25
John Palumbo
Pre loved clothes sales 💚
$25
Majella
🩷
$25
Nicola Duffy
$25
Gibran Harcha
Very happy to support this great cause.
$25
Anonymous
$25
Hamish
Thanks John. It's a great cause. Grantley would be proud. Cheers Hamish
$23.81
Celeste
Well done John 👏
$23.81
Rc
❤️
$23.81
John M
$23.81
Arshia Delfani
$23.33
Giada Cutri
Well Done John!! 👏🏽
$20
Anna
$17.87
Cath James
Such an important cause. We all know someone whose life has been affected by mental health, and sadly, many of us know someone who has lost their life to suicide. Every bit of support can make a difference. ❤️
$15
Ahida Velazquez
$11.92
Ella-rose Szalai
This is amazing
$11.92
Amanda Parfitt
$11.92
Rachael Chung
Cookie fundraiser
$11.92
Ella-rose Szalao
this is such an inspirational message, lots of love ❤️❤️
$10
Alex Bradfield
Good on you!
$10
John Palumbo
Week 5- 100g down 🫶🏻
$10
Mikayla S
$6.20
Anonymous
$6.20
Giovanni Leardini
$6.20
I can't bear to think of you not making this target, especially after eating all those oats!