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Helen beginning her 19-hour swim at Palm Beach[/caption]
Helen Conway is the first person to have swum 62km from Palm Beach to Bundeena in order to raise awareness and funds for youth mental health organisation ReachOut.com.
The 36-year-old from Alexandria, Sydney, completed the swim on 7 April in 19 hours 4 minutes and 29 seconds, despite numerous bluebottle stings, an electrical storm and a close encounter with a container ship at Port Botany.
The highlight of the swim, according to Helen, was swimming across ‘the Heads’. “I thought it would be scary, but the lights of the city skyline spread out before us down the harbour. It was such a privilege to see.”
Youth mental health is an issue close to Helen’s heart, who admits that she had “a pretty tough time as a teenager.”
“There were low points on this swim. But I know from my fights against depression that, although there are times when you feel you can’t keep going, the worst always passes. You just have to hang in there.”
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 help,” says Inspire Foundation CEO, Jonathan Nicholas.
“When I saw ReachOut.com I knew I had to help,” says Helen.  “Being online, it’s just the best way for young people to access support anywhere, anytime.”
Helen had the support of an exceptionally committed and talented crew, including two support kayaks, a rescue boat, and a 39-foot yacht leading the way. The swim also had the support of Surf Lifesaving Australia (SLSA).
This was not the first time that Helen, who had never swum in the ocean until she moved to Australia and met swim coach Chad Schneider in 2005, combined a personal challenge, a charity and a large expanse of water.  In 2010, she swam the English Channel in 11 hours 5 minutes, raising close to $20,000 for ReachOut.com.
You can still donate to support Helen and her amazing challenge to improve young people's mental health, go to her fundraising page.
ReachOut.com is Australia’s leading online youth mental health service. Launched in 1998 by the Inspire Foundation, it helps young people make sense of their mental and emotional health, feel more connected and take control of their own helpseeking.
Helen beginning her 19-hour swim at Palm Beach[/caption]Helen Conway is the first person to have swum 62km from Palm Beach to Bundeena in order to raise awareness and funds for youth mental health organisation ReachOut.com.
The 36-year-old from Alexandria, Sydney, completed the swim on 7 April in 19 hours 4 minutes and 29 seconds, despite numerous bluebottle stings, an electrical storm and a close encounter with a container ship at Port Botany.
The highlight of the swim, according to Helen, was swimming across ‘the Heads’. “I thought it would be scary, but the lights of the city skyline spread out before us down the harbour. It was such a privilege to see.”
Youth mental health is an issue close to Helen’s heart, who admits that she had “a pretty tough time as a teenager.”
“There were low points on this swim. But I know from my fights against depression that, although there are times when you feel you can’t keep going, the worst always passes. You just have to hang in there.”
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 help,” says Inspire Foundation CEO, Jonathan Nicholas.
“When I saw ReachOut.com I knew I had to help,” says Helen.  “Being online, it’s just the best way for young people to access support anywhere, anytime.”
Helen had the support of an exceptionally committed and talented crew, including two support kayaks, a rescue boat, and a 39-foot yacht leading the way. The swim also had the support of Surf Lifesaving Australia (SLSA).
This was not the first time that Helen, who had never swum in the ocean until she moved to Australia and met swim coach Chad Schneider in 2005, combined a personal challenge, a charity and a large expanse of water.  In 2010, she swam the English Channel in 11 hours 5 minutes, raising close to $20,000 for ReachOut.com.
You can still donate to support Helen and her amazing challenge to improve young people's mental health, go to her fundraising page.
ReachOut.com is Australia’s leading online youth mental health service. Launched in 1998 by the Inspire Foundation, it helps young people make sense of their mental and emotional health, feel more connected and take control of their own helpseeking.
