Isabella Veritay-Richards

My challenge is uncomfortable for me because...

I've spent too long playing it safe. Comfort zones are easy, but they don't push you forward. When I came across Nedd Brockmann on social media in 2023, something clicked—he made me realise I could do better, be better. Since then, I've been working on getting comfortable being uncomfortable. That's why I signed up for Nedd's Uncomfortable Challenge this year.

For 10 days, I'm rowing 5km on the erg every single morning and documenting it all on social media. If you've never been on a rowing machine, let me tell you—it's brutal. You can't zone out or distract yourself like you can on a run. You just sit there in the discomfort, counting down every meter. And right now, I'm injured, so I can't even do my usual running. I had to find another way to push myself, and the erg is it.

But honestly? The scariest part isn't the rowing—it's posting about it publicly. I hate the feeling of being judged. Putting myself out there every day, asking people to support me, that's where the real discomfort lives.

I'm doing this because I want to prove to myself that I can handle rejection, that I can advocate for something bigger than me, and that I can show up consistently even when it's hard. I want to come out the other side more confident. And I want to show others that pushing yourself—really pushing yourself—feels incredible when you come out the other side.

Here's the thing: while I'm working on myself, we're also creating real change. Every dollar I raise goes to We Are Mobilise, a charity proving that homelessness is solvable in Australia. They work with partners across the country to provide stable housing and employment pathways—the kind of support that actually breaks the cycle, not just a temporary bed for the night. My goal is to raise $3,000, which helps one person get into secure housing and turn their life around. That's $36 for one night of safe housing, $250 for a week, $1,000 for a month. Real support that creates real change for the 122,000 Australians experiencing homelessness.

I don't give up. I'm disciplined. I'm honest. And I need your help to hit this goal. If you can chip in—whether it's $36, $250, $1,000, or whatever you can—you're not just supporting me through this challenge. You're helping prove that homelessness doesn't have to be permanent.