The journey will take him across four towns in three days — starting in Rutherglen on Thursday, October 22, walking to Bundalong and then to Yarrawonga on Friday.
The final day will be the longest, with a 30km walk from Yarrawonga to Cobram, taking around eight hours.
“My partner, Justine, will be in the car behind me while I complete the walk,” Mr Bozanic said.
The challenge is the latest milestone in a personal journey to ‘get fit’ that began earlier this year.
“I was overweight, and I thought, ‘I need to do something.’ So I started walking,” he said.
“I started my weight-loss journey mid-January, and I am now down 22 kilos.”
Mr Bozanic participated in the worldwide ‘Walk for a bloke’ event in March, completing a 25km walk from Thurgoona to Albury.
Two weeks later, he and Justine took part in the Beechworth to Bridge walk, covering 27km from Beechworth to Yackandandah.
After completing the walk, Mr Bozanic began looking for a new challenge and discovered the Black Dog Institute's One Foot Forward campaign.
“I think everyone’s too scared to speak up and talk about their mental health,” he said.
“I was one of them. I was suffering in silence ... but with the support of family and friends I pushed through, and I thought ‘If I can get a bit of awareness out there and help other people, then why not?’”
To prepare for the trek, Mr Bozanic has been walking regularly, going to the gym several times a week, and maintaining a healthy diet.
He has also created a Facebook page to document his journey and keep supporters updated on his progress.
“The page is also for self-development,” Mr Bozanic said.
“I’m a very shy and reserved person, so this is a way for me to expand myself and grow as a person.”
Mr Bozanic has partnered with TOMS Merchandise in Chiltern, which will produce a range of fundraising merchandise, including jumpers, hoodies and polo shirts.
A fundraising page is expected to launch later this month, with merchandise set to go on sale in July.
Mr Bozanic is also seeking sponsorship from other local businesses.
“I’m looking for businesses that would like to feature on my shirt as a bit of advertising, and I’ll promote them on my social media,” he said.
Mr Bozanic said setting goals had been key to maintaining his motivation.
“I need an end goal,” he said.
“I can’t motivate myself without having something to look forward to, so after this walk, who knows what I’ll do next.”
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