Why I swim
I’m swimming this March because too many young lives are lost to suicide. Every lap I swim will help make sure there’s a safe place for young people to turn when life feels overwhelming. I've seen the effects that the loss of a young person can have on families and their friendship groups.
I'm swimming to save lives
Suicide remains the leading cause of death for young people in Australia.
More than 1 in 3 are experiencing mental health difficulties, yet over a million are not getting the support they need.
ReachOut provides anonymous, free and 100% online services so young people can find a safe place to connect, share and get help when life feels overwhelming.
I’m taking part in Laps for Life to make sure these vital services are always there. Please donate to my fundraiser and help more young people get the support they deserve.
My Swim Progress
Completed
20.00km (0 lap)
My goal
20km
My Impact
So far I’ve raised $1,337 to provided 334.2075 young people experiencing mental health difficulties with vital support.
Top Donation
$135
John Ponsford
Shoutout to John Ponsford – my biggest supporter so far with a $135 donation to help young people get the mental health support they need through ReachOut!
Funds Raised
Note: displays max previous 3 years of fundraising only
My Updates
Ladies and gentlemen…
That’s 20km done. You read that right. I knocked off the last 2km tonight. To everyone who’s shown their support in any and every possible way, you’re ace. Even if it’s just been enduring my posts!! I’m so proud of what’s been achieved in this challenge. I’ll point out that the admin team at Laps for Life offer great support to participants all the way through. They are real people checking in and doing whatever they can do and see how you’re tracking, and if there is anything they can do to support you to your goal. I got a call today, congratulating me on my achievement so far, and for the great fundraising achievement. Top notch. ShareDon’t panic!! i’m still here!!
It’s okay, I’m sure you’ve been missing my posts, but fear not, I’m here. I had a ripper swim today after it an average swim last Tuesday followed by a couple of busy days. 1km in 24.25 minutes. Can definitely do it quicker on foot, or on a pushie, or probably pushing your car up the road if you’ve run out of fuel…but I’m proud anyway!! Only 2km to go, with 2 days left for the month. Cruising home now. If you’ve been thinking of donating, please click on the link and it’ll take you to the site ❤️ ShareA bit weary
Not going to lie, I was a bit weary tonight as I clocked the 17th kilometre. With 7 days left to complete the last 3 kilometres of my nominated goal, I’m cautiously optimistic. I’ve been following the achievements of some of the other 9000 participants in this challenge and I’m blown away watching people smash their own chosen distance goals! ShareFive kilometres to go!
Stick with me!! Not too many more swimming posts for you to endure now!!! 🏊♀️75% done. ShareCheers to our birthday babe
On this day, 15 years ago, in a fairly whale-like shape, I popped up to the Ivanhoe pools for a few quiet laps. That night, I birthed our first beautiful babe, Ivy. I’m so lucky to get to watch her and her mates navigate the ups and downs of ‘Growing Up’ (I honestly still don’t know what that’s meant to look like!) As I swam my kilometre this morning, I reflected on this and had a surge of gratitude and a quiet acknowledgement that some families don’t get to reach this milestone for their babes. If my swims and your contributions help make a difference for just one young person, we’re doing okay. ❤️ ShareThe middle bit
So thirteen kilometres have been swum, with only seven to go. I’m in that Middle Bit where I know I’m progressing well, I’m stoked with what I’ve achieved so far and I could not be prouder of the support that has been shown. I’ve nearly doubled the fundraising target I initially set, which will provide a very impressive amount of services for young people experiencing various mental health concerns. So I’m going to raise my fundraising target to just over what’s been raised so far, as a bit of motivation to get me to the finish line. I might even lap people again, like I did tonight!!! Don’t get excited, it’s not that I got fast, they were just quite…leisurely. ShareLate post! week two commences
Yesterday, without too much fanfare I kicked off week 2 of this challenge. Another sneaky kilometre done. I hope this little bit of serial pestering helps to reach at least one person in a meaningful way. I continue to be blown away by the support and generosity of you all. Thank you ❤️ ShareWeek one is done
What can I say except the biggest Thank you” for all the amazing support in the first week of the Laps for Life challenge. I am so grateful to be a conduit for the extremely generous donations so far, and to have such sincere and welcome encouragement. I hope you’ll continue to humour me as I carry on to achieve my targets - maybe even setting the stakes a bit higher along the way. Some stats for those who like that sort of thing: 22.6% of the month complete (day 7 of 31) 35% laps achieved (7 of 20kms) 112% fundraising goal achieved ($563.00 raised of my $500 target) While the Apple Watch may have left the chat, I’m still kicking :) Share
Day 6 - how rude!
In a bid to even out my numbers I set a goal to swim 1.4km today, however I was thwarted by technology. At 1.3km I realised that my “smart” watch was trying to call my Emergency Contacts. Presumably it felt I was in some sort of distress. Rude! I exited the pool, let the lifeguard know that if an ambulance arrived for me I’m fine, sent messages to my Emergency Contacts, had a laugh, disposed of my watched (okay, not really) and carried on with my day. ShareGimme more on day four - 1.1km
Yes, 1.1km today. “Why?” I hear you ask? Well I headed on down for a pre dinner swim and got to lap 24 when we were asked to Vacate the Pool due to an unwell person doing what unwell people do. So I ducked home to do a few bits and bobs then headed back to the pool to finish my laps. But I can’t do 16 laps, that’s weird. So I did 20 and decided I should call it a day before I decided on some other number that potentially made more sense. Running total on day 4 is 3.6km. ShareDay two - laps for lunch
Headed to the campus pool today and snuck in 40 laps…well, possibly 42 but the lap counter on my watch had me doubting myself. In the pool by 1:30 and headed for the showers by 2:03 puts me at a similar pace to yesterday. No Olympic glory coming my way, but at least I’ve put a little dint in the 20km goal!! ShareDay one - the best laid plans
Got to the local pool at 5:11pm intent to get though 40 laps (1km) by the published 6pm closing time, only to learn the pool is to be vacated by 5:30. I asked if I could scoot straight to the pool and sort out my pass on the way out, with my request kindly obliged. I was in the water by 5:15 and completed my 20 laps by 5:28 - not bad considering I haven’t really done laps in what I now realise is YEARS!! I would have preferred to complete 1km for my first day, but maybe this was the universe telling me it’s okay to pace myself on Day One. 19.5kms to go. Lovk it in. ShareThank you to my
supporters
$135.04
John Ponsford
$106.12
Louise & Michael
We love what you're doing Kellie, good on you and thanks for all your efforts to help young people access the support they need xx
$89
Deanna Constantine
My sista. You are ace xx
$64.67
Samantha Ashton
You are amazing beautiful Kell
$64.67
Jo D
Go sista!
$56.24
Kellie Constantine
$56.24
Matched by 7-Eleven
$56.24
Siew-Peng Condon
$56.24
Leanne Douglas
Keep going Kel, you’re a superstar
$54.12
Tanya & Dean Humphrey
Great job cuz!!
$54.12
Fiona
keep going Kellie - you've got this!
$54.12
Matched by 7-Eleven
$54.12
Jeff Stewart
$54.12
Matched by 7-Eleven
$50
Mum & Phil
We’re very proud of you!
$38.33
Fiona G
Great work Kellie! Almost at the finish line.
$38.33
Leah Oliver
Go legend!
$33.15
Michelle Selbie
Brilliant Kel x
$29.90
Meg
Ace works Kellie! 💪🏼
$27.81
Shannon Nagyivan
Paying for the content. I’m enjoying your daily updates Kellie, keep up the good work.
$27.21
Mark Olszewski
Sorry this took so long. Excellent work x
$26
Kat B
You can do itttttt!
$22.58
Dee
Awesome effort. Great cause.
$22.58
Lyndell Walker
Well kel
$22.58
Dhivaan Naidoo
Superb effort
$20
Ash Keenan
Well done my beautiful friend.
$11.65
Phil Russell
$11.65
Matched by 7-Eleven
Ya shark!