19-05-2025
'It was either get sober or end up dying': Jacob's walk through darkness
Last Christmas was a distressing time for Wallsend's Jacob Jones.
Mr Jones, 24, self-harmed on Christmas Eve and was taken to the Mater.
He then spent six days in John Hunter Hospital.
"We used to have big family Christmases before my nan passed away when I was young around Christmas time," he said.
"It's a rough time of year. Something triggered me that night."
Mr Jones had been struggling with drug and alcohol abuse.
"Since that night, I haven't had a drink or touched drugs," he said.
In March, he climbed Mount Kosciuszko to mark three months' sober.
"I wanted to be the highest person in Australia without drugs," he said.
On June 13, Jacob will walk 100 kilometres in 24 hours to raise funds for the Black Dog Institute.
His odyssey, listed on GoFundMe, is titled "Walking Through the Darkness with Jonesy".
The route will cover Dungog, Paterson, Maitland, Newcastle, Merewether and Wallsend.
He said the walk marked a new chapter of "speaking up instead of shutting down".
He was doing the walk for "myself and every man who's ever felt like there's no way out".
"Men don't talk enough. We're taught to be strong, to keep it in and deal with things quietly.
"But the cost of silence is too high. I've seen it and lived it. I'm walking to change it."
Mr Jones had lived in a culture of drug and alcohol abuse.
"I recently went to a wedding and stayed sober. When I got home, I reflected on that.
"I felt angry at myself for abusing drugs and alcohol and going too far as a younger person."
He had to rule them out for life.
"I can't do it socially or mildly. It's either zero or 100. It was either get sober or end up dying."
He was now feeling "much better and stronger".
"This year has been a big change," he said.
"Exercise is a massive part of it. If I don't train every day, I get lazy, my diet goes out the window, and I start thinking about going to the pub."
His partner of seven years, Samantha, has been a big help.
"She's been through the thick of it," he said.
"If I didn't have her with me, I probably would have been dead or in jail by now."
This year, he began to see a psychologist to talk through his mental challenges.
"It really helped," he said.
He said the walk was for "mates who smile on the outside while struggling on the inside".
"It's for the brothers, fathers, sons and friends who think they have to go it alone.
"Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness."
He'll be walking through "pain and fatigue".
"With every step, I'll carry hope. You need hope and inspiration in your life.
"Hope is the opposite of all the negativity. It keeps people going.
"It doesn't matter if you're black or white, rich or poor, live in the country or city, everyone needs hope."
The idea for the walk came to him while "laying in bed the other night".
"It just came to my mind - 100 kilometres in 24 hours".
Last Christmas was a distressing time for Wallsend's Jacob Jones.
Mr Jones, 24, self-harmed on Christmas Eve and was taken to the Mater.
He then spent six days in John Hunter Hospital.
"We used to have big family Christmases before my nan passed away when I was young around Christmas time," he said.
"It's a rough time of year. Something triggered me that night."
Mr Jones had been struggling with drug and alcohol abuse.
"Since that night, I haven't had a drink or touched drugs," he said.
In March, he climbed Mount Kosciuszko to mark three months' sober.
"I wanted to be the highest person in Australia without drugs," he said.
On June 13, Jacob will walk 100 kilometres in 24 hours to raise funds for the Black Dog Institute.
His odyssey, listed on GoFundMe, is titled "Walking Through the Darkness with Jonesy".
The route will cover Dungog, Paterson, Maitland, Newcastle, Merewether and Wallsend.
He said the walk marked a new chapter of "speaking up instead of shutting down".
He was doing the walk for "myself and every man who's ever felt like there's no way out".
"Men don't talk enough. We're taught to be strong, to keep it in and deal with things quietly.
"But the cost of silence is too high. I've seen it and lived it. I'm walking to change it."
Mr Jones had lived in a culture of drug and alcohol abuse.
"I recently went to a wedding and stayed sober. When I got home, I reflected on that.
"I felt angry at myself for abusing drugs and alcohol and going too far as a younger person."
He had to rule them out for life.
"I can't do it socially or mildly. It's either zero or 100. It was either get sober or end up dying."
He was now feeling "much better and stronger".
"This year has been a big change," he said.
"Exercise is a massive part of it. If I don't train every day, I get lazy, my diet goes out the window, and I start thinking about going to the pub."
His partner of seven years, Samantha, has been a big help.
"She's been through the thick of it," he said.
"If I didn't have her with me, I probably would have been dead or in jail by now."
This year, he began to see a psychologist to talk through his mental challenges.
"It really helped," he said.
He said the walk was for "mates who smile on the outside while struggling on the inside".
"It's for the brothers, fathers, sons and friends who think they have to go it alone.
"Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness."
He'll be walking through "pain and fatigue".
"With every step, I'll carry hope. You need hope and inspiration in your life.
"Hope is the opposite of all the negativity. It keeps people going.
"It doesn't matter if you're black or white, rich or poor, live in the country or city, everyone needs hope."
The idea for the walk came to him while "laying in bed the other night".
"It just came to my mind - 100 kilometres in 24 hours".
Last Christmas was a distressing time for Wallsend's Jacob Jones.
Mr Jones, 24, self-harmed on Christmas Eve and was taken to the Mater.
He then spent six days in John Hunter Hospital.
"We used to have big family Christmases before my nan passed away when I was young around Christmas time," he said.
"It's a rough time of year. Something triggered me that night."
Mr Jones had been struggling with drug and alcohol abuse.
"Since that night, I haven't had a drink or touched drugs," he said.
In March, he climbed Mount Kosciuszko to mark three months' sober.
"I wanted to be the highest person in Australia without drugs," he said.
On June 13, Jacob will walk 100 kilometres in 24 hours to raise funds for the Black Dog Institute.
His odyssey, listed on GoFundMe, is titled "Walking Through the Darkness with Jonesy".
The route will cover Dungog, Paterson, Maitland, Newcastle, Merewether and Wallsend.
He said the walk marked a new chapter of "speaking up instead of shutting down".
He was doing the walk for "myself and every man who's ever felt like there's no way out".
"Men don't talk enough. We're taught to be strong, to keep it in and deal with things quietly.
"But the cost of silence is too high. I've seen it and lived it. I'm walking to change it."
Mr Jones had lived in a culture of drug and alcohol abuse.
"I recently went to a wedding and stayed sober. When I got home, I reflected on that.
"I felt angry at myself for abusing drugs and alcohol and going too far as a younger person."
He had to rule them out for life.
"I can't do it socially or mildly. It's either zero or 100. It was either get sober or end up dying."
He was now feeling "much better and stronger".
"This year has been a big change," he said.
"Exercise is a massive part of it. If I don't train every day, I get lazy, my diet goes out the window, and I start thinking about going to the pub."
His partner of seven years, Samantha, has been a big help.
"She's been through the thick of it," he said.
"If I didn't have her with me, I probably would have been dead or in jail by now."
This year, he began to see a psychologist to talk through his mental challenges.
"It really helped," he said.
He said the walk was for "mates who smile on the outside while struggling on the inside".
"It's for the brothers, fathers, sons and friends who think they have to go it alone.
"Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness."
He'll be walking through "pain and fatigue".
"With every step, I'll carry hope. You need hope and inspiration in your life.
"Hope is the opposite of all the negativity. It keeps people going.
"It doesn't matter if you're black or white, rich or poor, live in the country or city, everyone needs hope."
The idea for the walk came to him while "laying in bed the other night".
"It just came to my mind - 100 kilometres in 24 hours".
Last Christmas was a distressing time for Wallsend's Jacob Jones.
Mr Jones, 24, self-harmed on Christmas Eve and was taken to the Mater.
He then spent six days in John Hunter Hospital.
"We used to have big family Christmases before my nan passed away when I was young around Christmas time," he said.
"It's a rough time of year. Something triggered me that night."
Mr Jones had been struggling with drug and alcohol abuse.
"Since that night, I haven't had a drink or touched drugs," he said.
In March, he climbed Mount Kosciuszko to mark three months' sober.
"I wanted to be the highest person in Australia without drugs," he said.
On June 13, Jacob will walk 100 kilometres in 24 hours to raise funds for the Black Dog Institute.
His odyssey, listed on GoFundMe, is titled "Walking Through the Darkness with Jonesy".
The route will cover Dungog, Paterson, Maitland, Newcastle, Merewether and Wallsend.
He said the walk marked a new chapter of "speaking up instead of shutting down".
He was doing the walk for "myself and every man who's ever felt like there's no way out".
"Men don't talk enough. We're taught to be strong, to keep it in and deal with things quietly.
"But the cost of silence is too high. I've seen it and lived it. I'm walking to change it."
Mr Jones had lived in a culture of drug and alcohol abuse.
"I recently went to a wedding and stayed sober. When I got home, I reflected on that.
"I felt angry at myself for abusing drugs and alcohol and going too far as a younger person."
He had to rule them out for life.
"I can't do it socially or mildly. It's either zero or 100. It was either get sober or end up dying."
He was now feeling "much better and stronger".
"This year has been a big change," he said.
"Exercise is a massive part of it. If I don't train every day, I get lazy, my diet goes out the window, and I start thinking about going to the pub."
His partner of seven years, Samantha, has been a big help.
"She's been through the thick of it," he said.
"If I didn't have her with me, I probably would have been dead or in jail by now."
This year, he began to see a psychologist to talk through his mental challenges.
"It really helped," he said.
He said the walk was for "mates who smile on the outside while struggling on the inside".
"It's for the brothers, fathers, sons and friends who think they have to go it alone.
"Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness."
He'll be walking through "pain and fatigue".
"With every step, I'll carry hope. You need hope and inspiration in your life.
"Hope is the opposite of all the negativity. It keeps people going.
"It doesn't matter if you're black or white, rich or poor, live in the country or city, everyone needs hope."
The idea for the walk came to him while "laying in bed the other night".
"It just came to my mind - 100 kilometres in 24 hours".
