Aon Risk Solutions MD Broking and Chief Broking Officer Pacific James Baum is seeking donations for his Kokoda trek, aiming to raise $50,000 for mental health programs in rural schools and community groups.

Mr Baum, who is walking the 96km track in Papua New Guinea, has so far raised $10,207.

The money will go to the Black Dog Institute, which works on diagnosis, treatment and prevention of illnesses such as depression and bipolar disorder.

It will help the institute send volunteers into rural schools and community groups to share their experiences of mental health issues.

“Mental health touches all our families – one in five Australians are affected by mental illness each year,” Mr Baum said.

He has worked with various mental health organisations as part of his insurance work, “tackling the issue of discrimination that people routinely suffer from when buying insurance products that most of us take for granted”.

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