Hayllie Gilbert

I’m swimming this March because too many young lives are lost to suicide. Some days, life feels like a stormy sea. Work, parenting, and the weight of everything can churn inside me — fierce waves of stress, worry, and emotion that seem impossible to calm. Swimming gives me a pause. Each stroke becomes a way to ride the tide, to let the storm pass without being swept away. In the water, I remember: even the wildest waves eventually settle, and so can we. I swim for youth mental health, to shine a light on how important it is to care for our minds. I swim for myself, to stay grounded, to honour my emotions, and to practice steady routines that strengthen both body and spirit. I swim for my children, to show them that mental health matters, that small, consistent actions — one stroke at a time — create real change, and that taking care of yourself is a form of courage. Sometimes, staying afloat starts with just one lap. Still water. Strong mind.