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Kerry Dawborn

Help me reach my goal of $2,000

Why I swim

I’m swimming this March because I know what it is to watch a loved one suffer, and to lose them to suicide. Because I know too many people who are struggling and because I believe we don’t fund mental health care well enough to provide the care that is needed, for people who are ill, and for their families. Too many people are suffering because of their own or a loved one’s mental ill health, and for many the suffering goes on for years. We must raise awareness, we must end the impact of shame, and we must fund mental health care properly.

Swimmer

My Swim Progress

Completed

18.80km (376 laps)

My goal

20km

Please help Kerry
reach their goal for
youth mental health

Raised

$2,139

My Goal

$2,000

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$245
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My Impact

Impact

So far I’ve raised $2,139 to provided 534.67 young people experiencing mental health difficulties with vital support.

Top Donation

Donation top

$158

sue evans

Shoutout to sue evans – my biggest supporter so far with a $158 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

Lovely support
Today I met Sally At the pool and started talking to her because she was wearing a laps for life swim cap. She’s not doing it this year, but has done it in the past. We had a nice chat, and I told her about my possibly overly ambitious goal, And my friend in Switzerland who is contributing some laps, and she offered to contribute some laps as well! I like the way this type of activity can bring people together in many different ways for a good cause… Thanks, Sally!
Working together
The second lot of laps logged for Sunday were from my friend, as mentioned in the previous blog. I am so grateful for her support and also that this endeavour has started as such a positive experience for her. Her message to me below. 
“ Hi Kerry,
Enjoyed this morning. As the pool is only 25 m long I counted back and forth as one lap. So I did 9 laps
Thinking of you and felt elated and positive today. 
I hope I can do a little more tomorrow. I met a child who wanted to know why I was in the children's lane, (Sunday), and I said read the sign it states "slow lane". He said he was very fast so I said I will call you hare. Then he told me I wasn't swimming correctly and gave me some pointers. Love kids like this! He asked me what my name is and I replied tortoise. He laughed out loud. We have a date at the pool next Sunday for me swimming tips in exchange of a milkshake, (I have his mother's permission). This is a bright kid I now hope he doesn't make the connection between Aesops Fables. The Tortoise  and the Hare. Thank you for this opportunity. I am enthusiastic.“

I love how a simple willingness to follow a feeling and put one’s hand up to help, can have such lovely and unexpected repercussions. 
I know we are not following the L for L rules per se, but the saying “The sum is greater than the whole”, feels apt here. 
Sometimes it’s ok to trust, act and let things unfold. I’m so glad I have. 
Solidarity
It’s been a difficult couple of months and I haven’t been able to swim at all, while helping look after my dad. But yesterday I got back into the pool, and logged my first laps, and enjoyed just being peacefully in the water, looking up at the evening clouds, and thinking of my dad. The sky is funny, how when you’ve lost someone, it can feel like you will find them there. 
When I committed to do 20 km, it was early December, and my world had not yet changed. I thought I was going to have two months to build up, so swimming a km or more each session felt like a manageable challenge. Now it feels like wishful thinking, and I know I will have to give myself time to build up, and might not make it to the target. 
I recently mentioned this to a friend who is also one of my sponsors. This is a person who knew my dad for most of her life, and for whom he was another kind of father, helping and guiding her through challenges that can be hard to imagine for those who have not experienced them. This lovely woman is as devastated as I am to have lost him, and I am proud to count her as a member of my wider family. She has also known the horror of loss by suicide and has amazed me by offering to contribute her own swimming laps to help make up my total. It’s probably not ‘in the rules’ but I feel it is very much in the spirit of what this challenge and fundraiser is all about, and trust that others will feel the same way. 
It’s hard to express what this means to me - that she is prepared to share with me in this challenge. It is so much more than just swimming. 
You know who you are, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart, for travelling this journey with me in whatever way you are able. 

My Team

Laps for Love

Kerry Dawborn (C)

Raised so far:

$2,138.68

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Thank you to my
supporters

$158.25

sue evans

Dear Kerry its a wonderful organisation to contribute to , I was so sad to hear of Jacks death I didn't know . I always will remember the photo of your dad holding onto him in the shower. Love Soo

$158.25

Susan & Ernst Hanselmann

I really can't think what is more important than this cause

$135.04

Heather

You are swimming with your heart Kerry. All the best 💜

$135.04

Meredith Cole

Good on you Kerry. Lots of love Mx

$135.04

Susan Hanselmann

Thinking of your family

$135.04

D P

Should reach your target

$106.12

Christine Anderson

Good luck (Jennie+ Christine) your Dad did a wonderful job looking after our sister Sue. We hope you have a good result with the fundraiser.

$106.12

Mark

Good one Kes!

$106.12

Robbie Fordyce

$106.12

Caroline Johnston

Go girl

$94.86

Brett B

Great effort

$94.86

Anonymous

In honour of your nephew and in memory of your dad. Best wishes to you Kerry.

$64.67

Wendy Ward

Good luck Kerry. It is a great cause

$57.30

Anita

Awesone job swimming the laps for such a great cause. Best wishes

$56.24

Heather Snowden

Good on you Kerry. Hope you surpass your goal.

$56.24

Mike Dawborn

Hi kezza!!

$56.24

Anne Brown-Robins

$56.24

Evelyne Burri

Friend of Susan Hanselman

$54.12

Belinda Gourley

Good on you Kerry! I’m sorry to hear about your nephew and dad. Best wishes to you and your family.

$52

Brianna Laugher

$41.38

Anonymous

Dear Kerry. Thinking of you and thanking you for your commitment to this cause. Fi

$33.15

Naomi

Good on you for raising funds for such an important cause. ❤️

$27.81

Heathe

Thinking of you Kerry. It must be painful at this time of year for your family.

$27.81

Anonymous

All the very best for your training and goal Kerry. Go team Kerry! 💪

$27.81

Georgina Lewis

A very meaningful thing to do. Good luck! (And to your friend in Switzerland too!)

$22.58

Raymond Hanselmann

Donation from Switzerland

$22.58

Jasmin Walter

$11.65

Eva Hanselmann

All the best ♥️

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