That is Juliana Bahr-Thomson’s message as she embarks on a character-building and record-making 1000-kilometre board paddle from Newcastle to Noosa to raise awareness of domestic violence and ocean conservation.

Not that the Newcastle lifeguard and high school teacher is lacking in character.

The resilient 27-year-old grew up with domestic violence and is doing the paddle as a way of representing the struggle and personal battles she had to overcome in her life. 

“Any experience you go through in your life changes you and I can definitely say that there are the negatives and positives through what I have been through,” Ms Bahr-Thomson said.

“But I am really trying to make it a positive, to turn it into something bigger and better to help others.”

The paddle is expected to take 43 days “if everything goes to plan” and will be a Guiness World record.

There will be plenty of challenges along the way – the physical pain, the mental battle and also the likely presence of sharks.

But Bahr-Thomson, who has represented Australia in triathlon and gymnastics, has always used her experience as “my drive” in sport and will do so again for this challenge.

“It is going to be incredibly painful, and I will be sore and tired, but I have got a lot of rehab programs and exercises that I need to be doing every day to make sure I can keep the body in one piece,” she said.

“For the past couple of years, if not more throughout my sports career, I feel like I’ve been mentally preparing for something like this for a very long time.”

She heads off on her journey on Sunday. The first leg is from Horseshoe beach to Birubi and she has already overcome many obstacles before even hitting the water.

Last year she had ankle surgery then ruptured her Achilles, requiring further surgery.

But that did not stop her.

She then had to delay the start of the paddle when her water crew pulled out.

But that did not stop her either.

She has since managed to assemble a crack team, including land and water crews, and feels overwhelmed by the support she has received.

The idea for the paddle to Noosa was borne when Bahr-Thomson embarked on a four-day paddle from Newcastle to Bondi last year, raising money for motor neuron disease research and the Surfrider Foundation.

“The moment that I pulled up on Bondi beach I said, ‘I’m thinking about paddling to Noosa’, so from pretty much the next day I’ve been preparing,” Ms Bahr-Thomson said.

“I thought, if I’m going to step this up for Noosa and it’s going to be huge, I want to do it for something a bit closer to heart, which is where White Ribbon comes in.”

She calls herself the Mermaid with a Message.

And it is an important message she is spreading.

“Your past doesn’t need to shape who you are or your future and where you plan on going,” Ms Bahr-Thomson said.

“I want to encourage and inspire people to not let their past dictate their future. That’s my key message because through that message there is awareness.”

She hopes her efforts will inspire others to “speak up and seek support”.

“I just want to show women across the country who are trapped in a position where they are vulnerable that they can escape and that there are great things ahead,” Bahr-Thomson said.

To donate to Bahr-Thomson’s cause go to: www.mermaidwithamessage.com.au