Swim 20k in one day?!
- This is my first year diving
- in for youth mental health
'Laps For Life' challenges people to swim 20km over the course of March to make sure young people in Australia have the mental health support they urgently need. Of course I signed up but 20km in one month just seemed well, 'too doable'. So, on 22nd March (my 48th birthday) I will swim 20km in one day!
That's:
- 400 laps of a 50m pool (fewer sea monsters than the Bay)
- Between 6 and 8 hours of continuous swimming (with wee breaks)
- A shed load of training! (I have already swum 30km since sign-up)
- And a glorious 3 days of lemon meringue pie eating before the big event.
There's potential that my ageing carcass might pull up a bit sore, so knowing I have a fundraising goal is going to power me through the niggles. I'm fundraising because:
Autistic adults are 9 times more likely than 'typicals' to die from suicide. Worse still, Autistic adolescents are 28 times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers.
There's no doubt my fellow neuro-divergents and I do it tough in many ways but we also do it fabulously. Please consider supporting me to make the chaff worthwhile. Thank you.
xx
Kind Souls
Done.
Well, that was epic. 20km in 7 hours. Never again 🤣
My left shoulder protested loudly throughout that final 5km as an increasing southerly pounded at us. My arm hangs limply for now. I get it, arm. The wind pissed me off too. In fact, I might have even impotently sworn at the elements during that final kilometre.
Of course, the swim had to be unpredictably poignant. A self-described 'random' guy cheering me on at the end shared that he spent time with his son, Aiden, last year at that very spot. It was last time he saw him before he died by suicide aged 21. We had a hug and cry at our beautiful chance meeting. He felt Aiden had orchestrated our meeting as a reminder.
Thanks to:
🥸 Chris who characteristically under-promised and (he would say 'over')-delivered. I love you most for publicly describing me as 'non-normal' - because we both love irony.
🏊♀️ My swim-wife, Manu for everything always.
😇 The all important sponsors. Let's hope the nearly $3,000 we raised reaches at least one Aiden.
💙
100km of training! Let the taper begin...
10k in the Bay - Achievement unlocked!
Today, smashed 8k in the bay!
Chafe
My Swim Progress
I've swum
82.00km (3,280 laps)
My Goal
20km
How do you compare to other participants?
Average Distance Swum: 16m
Average Distance Goal: 18KM
My Impact
So far this year I helped provide...
826
Young people with vital mental health support.
Fundraising Progress
Raised
$3305
My Goal
$480
So far, you’ve raised 688% of your fundraising goal!
Raised
$0
My Team Goal
$0
So far, you’ve raised nan% of your fundraising goal!
Raised
$3,469,575
All Goal
$3,600,000
So far, you’ve raised 97% of your fundraising goal!
Thank you to my Sponsors
Life-Saving Donation
$500
Elizabeth Wilkins
$215
Victoria, Geoff and Saksawah
Swim well our fabulous friend. We will be cheering you on from Sydney. We are in awe of you and your passion. xxx
$211
Chris McNeill
You are an amazing, generous, life-affirming, non-normal, lung-bursting, marathon swimmer!
$211
Andrew Fee
$200
Diane Noles
May your pies be sharp and your thighs be smooth.
$150
Jacinta Marks
You are a legend. Swim well my friend. Jacinta xx
$140
Eve Straw
Well done you! What an epic effort for such an important, heartbreaking cause 💔💖
$135.04
Tim Trumper
Good on you Helen
$105.50
Deb
You wonderful human being 🥰 🏊♀️
$105.50
Matthew Ellis
$101
Emily Holt
Utter Legend!!!
$101
Danielle Haan
Go you good thing! And…. Happy birthday!
$100
Manuela and Colin
You can do anything you put your mind to. Amazing achievement!!!
$63.30
Vikki Octigan
Helen you are absolutely amazing
$56
Jia Jia
Great work Helen!! Happy birthday and very glad to be part of the meaningful support!
$54.86
Lynne Witynski
What a wonder you are - fabulous, fit and fantastically kind.
$54.86
Wendy Clarke
Good Luck, Helen!!
$53
Georgia Maxwell
We love Grantie Helen you can do this !
$52.75
Su Jardine
Fantastic Effort. You are amazing!
$52.75
Jaki Atwell
$52.75
Emma Jenkins
Helen, my one in a million friend. You are incredibly fabulous, benevolent and incredibly stark mad in equal measures. Go get ‘em 🐢
$52.75
Peta S
All the very best- Neuro-divergent people kicks butt
$52
Sarah Stephanou
You evolved into a Hippocampus!! :) swim well pal xx
$50
Judith Mcneill
Good luck Helen Sending love Judy x
$50
Anna May
Very inspirational Good luck x
$50
Bob Richards
$48
Helen McNeill
$42.20
Adrian Holmes
Good luck - that is a massive swim
$42
Angel, James & Harrison
Good luck Auntie Helen!! We love you ❤️
$40
Nathan Scolaro
Go you good thing xx
$31.65
Sarah Byrne
You’re awesome!
$31.65
Colleen Barker
You go for it girl, proud of you xxx
$26
Libby Chislett
Good luck Helen, a great cause.
$21.10
Shelagh Mellowship
Proud of you x
$21
Tammy Frankland
Go girl, you're awesome!
$19.95
Lucy Beynon
$11
Claire Vause
Very proud of you
You are a fabulous machine of a woman. Good on you Helen xx