Last week, Youth Live4Life launched LAP it UP, challenging people to swim laps for youth mental health awareness and suicide prevention in regional and rural communities.
The initiative was inspired by father daughter team Sean and Kirsten McKinney, who in 2018 hosted an event their local pool in Gisborne with an aim to relay and swim 2866 laps together – the same number of laps as the number of Austrlians who have died by suicide.
After two years of lockdown, Woodend-based Youth Live4Life is continuing the McKinney’s legacy, running LAP it UP from November 10 to 20 to raise funds for the organisation’s Live4Life initiative.
Youth Live4Life chief executive Bernard Galbally said swimming was a “fantastic” exercise for the cause.
“It’s really great for your mental health as well as your physical health,” Mr Galbally said.
“It’s a great initiative for us to be able to bring people together, whether it’s online at the event finals, to celebrate the work Live4Life is doing across regional victoria.”
Youth Live4Life has partnered with community pools in the Macedon Ranges – the Kyneton Toyota Sports and Aquatic Centre and the Gisborne Aquatic Centre – for the event finale on Sunday, November 20.
The organisation encourages people to get involved and use the hashtag #LapitUp.
“Make your laps as long or short as you like – swim in the ocean, in a 50-metre Olympic-style pool or even a wading pool in your backyard,” Youth Live4Life said.
Details: www.lapitup.org.au/
If you, or anyone you know needs mental health support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Elsie Lange
