ReachOut is calling on Aussies to take part in Laps for Life‚ a month-long swimming challenge event in March.
Laps for Life has been created to raise funds and awareness for young people in Australia living with mental health difficulties and to help prevent youth suicide.
Laps for Life is open to everyone across Australia and is simple to take part in this March. People can get involved by visiting lapsforlife.com.au to register a personal swimming challenge and fundraise towards a goal. Participants set their own lap or distance goal and then dive on in. Whether they are swimming in a pool or getting out into the ocean, they log their laps to record their progress.
Ian Thorpe, Patron of ReachOut, is supporting the launch of Laps for Life by calling on all Aussies to jump in the pool for this important cause.
Myself and so many Australians know firsthand what it's like to face mental health challenges. Finding the right help is so important, he said.
We can all do our bit to change the statistics when it comes to youth suicide, and this year for the very first time, just by getting in the pool, achieving a new swimming goal and raising funds for ReachOut, you can.
Ashley de Silva, CEO of ReachOut said the organisation was excited to launch Laps for Life because of the positive impact the event could have on both participants and young people across Australia.
Swimming and exercise in general ‚is a great way to improve our wellbeing. We are excited to join forces with Ian and to invite Aussies to jump in the pool, smash a new goal and improve their wellbeing by taking part in Laps for Life. At the same time, swimmers will help raise funds for the work ReachOut does to help so many young Aussies through whatever life throws at them, he said.
Leading International swimwear brand Zoggs is the Principal Partner for Laps for Life in 2019. Zoggs originated in Australia and are known for their innovative and award-winning goggles; Zoggs are generously supporting the event via product donation to reward all fundraising participants. To learn more about Zoggs, visit: zoggs.com.au
To register to take part in Laps for Life, visit: lapsforlife.com.au.
For more information about ReachOut, visit ReachOut.com and ReachOut.com/Parents.
Join the journey and stay connected by following our socials. We're @LapsForLife.Aus on Facebook and Instagram, and LapsForLife_Aus on Twitter.
ENDS
Key statistics
- One in four people in Australia aged 14 to 25 live with a mental health difficulty.
- 70 percent of those living with a mental health difficulty don't get the help they need.
- Suicide remains the leading cause of death for young Australians, which means that more young Australians die each year by suicide than in car accidents or from cancer.
- After friends and family, the internet is the first place young people turn to for information and support.
Media contact
Tessa Anderssen / 0411 708 587 / tessa@reachout.com
About ReachOut
ReachOut has been changing the way people access help since launching as the world's first online mental health service nearly 20 years ago. Everything they create is based on the latest evidence and designed with experts, and young people or their parents. This is why ReachOut's digital self-help tools are trusted, relevant and easy to use. Available for free anytime and pretty much anywhere, ReachOut is accessed by 132,000 people in Australia every month. That's more than 1.58 million each year.
