Cecily Waterston

This March, I’m diving in for mental health in general. Swimming has always been more than exercise for me. It’s my reset button, where I find clarity, strength, and calm. The water is my therapy. But this swim is also for someone very special — my only ever swimming buddy, Holly Doggie. I had to say goodbye to Holly, my beautiful rescue dog, in February. Before her, I’d always swum alone. When I adopted Holly, I gained, of course, a loyal companion, but also my first-ever swim partner. And she loved the water. If I’d let her, she would have happily swum across Lake Hume in Albury-Wodonga without a second thought, or kept floating down the Murray River chasing ducks when it was time to get out. Swim and swim and swim — that was her joy. Now the water feels a little quieter without her. So this March I’m swimming for my own fitness and mental health — and in memory of Holly. I’m swimming because movement heals. Because mental health matters. Reaching my fundraising goal will give me a reason to keep showing up, to keep swimming, and to turn something personal into something powerful. If you’re able to support youth mental health by donating, I’d be grateful. Every stroke I take is for stronger minds, open conversations, and brighter futures. And maybe, somewhere, Holly is still swimming beside me. 🐾