A Parramatta Councillor is swimming to save lives this month as part of the Laps for Life fundraiser.
Throughout March, local Councillor Kellie Darley will be diving into Epping Aquatic Centre to help make sure young people in Australia have the mental health support they urgently need.
Kicking off her Laps for Life fundraiser, Darley will be raising vital funds for Reach Out.
Anonymous and confidential, ReachOut is a safe place that provides a wide range of support options that allow young people to engage in the ways they want to, when they want to.
With more than one in three young people experiencing mental health difficulties, and suicide remaining the leading cause of death for young Australians aged 16 to 24, Darley knew Laps for Life was something she had to get involved with.
“I was shocked when I found out how many young people die every year from suicide,” Darley told Parra News.
“I’ve been swimming for my own mental health and for exercise at Epping Pool and I just thought [Laps for Life] was a great way to raise awareness of the need for more mental health services for young people.”
Darley has committed to swimming an average of 10 laps a day, which will be about 15km in total for the month. And although she said she’s feeling quite sore from all the swimming, Darley has found it has already significantly helped with her own mental health.
“It’s just lovely, particularly the Epping Pool, to spend half an hour, 40 minutes, in the water for just some down time from everything else going on,” she said.
“I’ve let my health go, which can happen particularly as a mum and being a new Councillor, and there’s not enough hours in the day so I really wanted to prioritise my health this year and at the same time raise money for a really great cause.”
Having already surpassed her initial fundraising target of $600, Darley has been amazed at the support she has received from the community so far. She’s now encouraging more people to help save lives by donating to her fundraiser to improve mental health services for young people.
“These are preventable deaths, 400 kids every year and you think about all the families.. I would hate to be a parent who loses their child to suicide, it would just be horrific,” she said.
“So, even just starting that conversation [and] people being aware of the services available, particularly parents whose kids are moving into their teenage years and just what helps there, is all really important.”
To donate to Darley’s fundraiser head to http://www.lapsforlife.com.au/fundraisers/kelliedarley.
If you or someone you know is in need of support go to au.reachout.com or contact Lifeline on 13 11 14
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.