On Saturday, 19 April 2013, Australian police officer Andy Warton set off to become the first person to circumnavigate Samoa by kayak in order to raise awareness and funds to support young people’s mental health in Samoa and Australia.

Andy’s 400km solo voyage, called Kayak4Youth, will take about 10 days and was inspired by personal loss:  “A few years ago, I lost two close friends to suicide in a short space of time.  When a close friend told me of his friend’s daughter’s attempted suicide, I decided to act.”

In Australia, suicide claims more young lives than road accidents, and one in four young people will experience mental health problems.  “The tragic thing is that two in three young people who are struggling mentally and emotionally never seek any help,” says Inspire Foundation CEO, Jonathan Nicholas.

To date, almost $10,000 has been raised for Australia’s online youth mental health service ReachOut.com and Samoa’s Lifeline, Faataua Le Ola (FLO).

The kayak voyage will commence in the capital Apia and follow a course around the two main islands of Upolo and Savaii and seven other islets, all of which form the Independent State of Samoa.  Andy will be joined on the water at various villages by local fisherman, traditional outrigger groups and other boats.

“While traveling solo for most of my 400km journey, I will not be alone,” says Andy. “My message to young people in Samoa and Australia is that there is always someone or somewhere to turn to in difficult times – you are never alone.”

Donate to support Andy’s challenge at www.kayak4youth.com and follow his progress on twitter.com/kayak4youth.