Why I’m Sweating with Pride
In the darkness of my second winter this year, I am fighting against feelings of helplessness by choosing agency, moving my body, and raising funds for LGBTQA+ mental health initiatives - I'm taking on Sweat with Pride this June! 💦🌈
The news around the world is dire, and this is especially affecting the wellbeing ofour Rainbow whānau. Right now, schools, workplaces, and even doctors’ offices aren’t safe for many in our community—and it’s putting lives at risk. LGBTQIA+ Kiwis face higher rates of mental illness and suicide.
So, I'm fighting discrimination with perspiration—exercising 21 minutes every day in June to raise money for life-changing Rainbow support services.
This cause means the world to me, and I’d be SO grateful if you could chip in to help me reach my goal. Every dollar makes a difference.
Thank you so much for your support! ❤️
My Fundraising
Impact
Achieved
In Progress
$100
Provides vital resources to support Rainbow communities
Achieved
In Progress
$300
Free, confidential mental health support for Rainbow Kiwis
Achieved
In Progress
$500
Ensures more people can access life-changing health services without cost barriers
Achieved
In Progress
$1,000
Fund an educational workshop to create safer, more inclusive spaces
Achieved
In Progress
$2,500
Provides a full day of community outreach, to improve wellbeing and reduce stigma on a large scale
💖 I’m $1,317 away from my next impact milestone. Will you help me reach it?
Track My
Sweat
I’m sweating for 30 minutes per day this June!
1,065 minutes completed
900 minutes goal
My Fundraising
Ranking
I’m #97 out of 5,984 Sweaty Bettys
97
Joy Mills
Raised
$1,183
My Blog
Updates
With a human and a bird fairy on my head.
The circus class for 4 year olds has a LOT of parent participation! And schlepping up the hill at the zoo with a human on the shoulders ain't nothing!
Walking to the hike was as long as the forest walk, but still nice
I feel like walking with a kid on my shoulders should count as double. And yet...
The weather has truly turned, but I faced the bitter cold for my walk to work this morning. I would DEFINITELY not have done it if it weren't for Sweat with Pride!
Kiddo home again, but thankfully not sick this time. We walked around the corner and up the hill to a park with an awesome friend, but I did extra sweating since I was carrying the 4 year old on my back!
Home with a sick kiddo meant a very sedentary day. We mustered for a little neighborhood walk, which I am counting as a win.
So all the stretching and animal walks and jumps and hops were all things the adults did too! Lots of fun, and definitely broke a sweat.
Tried doing Moana Yoga with the kiddo and got bonus challenge of yoga with someone crawling all over me!
I had already done 30 minutes, walking into town from uni, but when I saw the rush hour traffic ahead of my bus on the way home, I hopped out and walked up the hill! Check out the traffic jam in the background!
Another exciting day of thesis bootcamp with bonus stretching abs a brisk walk outside!
In the middle of our thesis bootcamp our awesome facilitator brought in someone from the rec centre to lead us through a bunch of stretches and yoga. It felt great. I will tack on a little bit more in the next break too!
I had a full day writing workshop, bur I really missed my walk to campus beforehand. I still did a 30 minute walk in to town, but not as ferocious or sweaty as other days.
A very very cold walk to campus!
Climbing up the big hill behind my house has a beautiful surprise view of snowy mountains!
The kiddo was up at 4. I was tired. I was grumpy. It was truly ghastly outside. And yet- I did a 30-minute yoga session and it felt great. Hooray!
I thought my daughter would be super into a mother-daughter ballet session. She made it through about 10 minutes, but I had a great time!
Rainy rainy day, so tried this out. Fun, but ouch!
Nothing too exciting, but a nice 30 minute walk to work.
All the way from my office to Zealandia, way too crowded to work so walked up up up through the forest, up the steps and right to my door!
Thanks to you beauties, I hit my goal of $300 already, so I am lifting the bar. (US friends, you will get a pleasant surprise in that you pledged in NZD which is waaaay less than USD).
I am looking forward to the challenge in June - the days are getting shortand the weather is getting dreich so actually moving the body (and supporting Queer mental health initiatives in these dark times, literally and figuritively) is really important.
My Generous
Sponsors
$100
Jeanne
$100
Lorene Mills
What creativity and persistence you have shown in this challenge! Yay, you!
$100
Becca
Love it! Hope you are well 🙂
$68
Nick Guerette
<3
$68
Autumn Quinn
So proud of you for this! Walk On!
$68
Kate G
Thanks for the reminder nudge. ❤️❤️
$68
Vernon James & Paul Barnes
$68
Sasha
Go Joy - for pride and thesis!
$58
Anonymous
$50
Lorene Mills
Sweating with and for Pride! Yay, you!
$50
Eden
Heck yes!
$50
Felice
Thank you Joy and I hope your walks are beautiful.
$46
Elizabeth McDonald
Go Joy!
$46
Mike Rotondo
$46
Cari
$30
Joy Mills
$25
Craig Stansfield
Nice work Joy!
$23
Joshua Hudner
$21
Francesca Benocci
Go go go
$21
Sweaty Besties
Keep on sweating! Arohanui, 2degrees, AA Insurance, Auckland Council, Datacom, L’Oréal, and Tend.
$20
Steph Foxton
Woohoo! Let's go Joy!
$20
Candice Purwin
Proud of your pride friend, always.
$20
J
Love You
$17
Arthur Chalmers
Goal busted!
Go, Joy!