Chloe Girdler

I'm swimming to save lives

Why I’m Doing Laps for Life

Every day, people are fighting battles we can’t see.

I’m taking part in Laps for Life because mental health matters — especially for young people in outback towns and boarding schools. Growing up or living rural can be beautiful, but it can also be isolating. There’s distance from family, pressure to be strong, limited services, and often nowhere to hide when you’re struggling. Too many kids carry heavy things quietly.

In Australia, 1 in 5 people experience a mental health condition each year. Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death for young Australians. Every single day, families are impacted. Friends are impacted. Schools are impacted. Entire communities feel it.

That’s why I’m swimming.

Each lap is for the kids who feel alone.
For the teenagers who miss home but don’t say it out loud.
For the young people who are trying to be “tough” when they’re actually hurting.
For anyone who feels like they have to handle it all by themselves.

Laps for Life raises vital funds for youth mental health services, helping provide counselling, crisis support, and early intervention programs that can genuinely save lives.

If you can donate, I would be so grateful. If you can’t, please follow along and share the message. Awareness matters. Conversations matter. Showing up matters.