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General News

5 October, 2023

Lap it up for fundraiser

Make your swimming skills count with Lap it Up, a fundraising fitness challenge organised to support youth mental health in regional communities — with the initiative entering its final week, locals are urged to make a splash while there’s still...

By Prealene Khera

Lap it up for fundraiser - feature photo

Make your swimming skills count with Lap it Up, a fundraising fitness challenge organised to support youth mental health in regional communities — with the initiative entering its final week, locals are urged to make a splash while there’s still time.

Running from October 1-15, Lap it Up is spearheaded by the Live4Life health promotion charity that launched its services in the Central Goldfields Shire earlier this year and all funds from the challenge will be donated to the organisation in support of young people suffering from mental health problems in rural areas.

As part of the challenge, participants can swim as many laps as they like, short or long — if people are swimming, they’re making a difference the shire’s Live4Life project officer Shelley Feilding said.

“The aim is to swim laps for youth mental health awareness and suicide prevention within our local communities,” she said.

“It’s for a great cause and the money raised supports the mental health of our youth and that’s so important.

“There’s a variety of reasons why people might want to get involved —it could be for Live4Life or it could be for their own physical and mental health, it could be in honour of somebody they know who’s died by suicide or for someone they know of who’s struggling with their mental health so we want to encourage everyone to join no matter what their reason is, we’re welcoming everybody.”

According to Ms Feilding, the two-week long program and the Live4Life not-for-profit are helping highlight the shire’s commitment to improving mental wellbeing in the community.

“Youth mental health is something that we see as very important in our region,” she said.

“Data shows that suicide rates in rural areas is higher and because we have limited resources within the shire we’re working on building those supports for our young people [with the help of Live4Life].

“We’re giving mental health first aid training to people who are associated with our youth such as coaches and anyone who does extracurricular activities with them — it is through our collective efforts and commitment that we will succeed in improving mental health outcomes for young people and improving community responses to those who need it most.”

To find out more about Lap it Up or to register for the challenge visit www.lapitup.org.au/about/about-lap-it-up

If you or a loved one need support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue on 1800 512 348 or webchat www.beyondblue.org.au/support-service/chat, or the Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 or via webchat at kidshelpline.com.au

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