Melinda Ricchini

For you Lachie 🩷

On Feb 4th 2024, our lives and our hearts were completely shattered, when our beautiful 15 year old boy died by suicide.  Lachie was a funny, outgoing, passionate, loving person, who was motivated  and driven in all he did. Especially with his swimming. He loved being on pool deck with his coach and friends, cheering on his team mates who were swimming, and he loved getting in the pool and training and racing hard. He was compassionate and caring, loving his family and friends fiercely and wholeheartedly.  

Losing Lachie is an absolute tragedy that just should not have happened. I know nothing will bring him back, but I want to do something that Lachie would have done. Actually he did do. Lachie and his big brother Cam both participated in Laps for Life over several years, wanting to make a difference and help others in some way, who were struggling with their mental health. Let’s do this for Lachie. Join our team and swim some laps, and raise some money for Reach Out (the organisation behind Laps for Life). Let’s be active (it’s great for our physical and mental health), and squash the stigma around suicide by talking about it.  Let’s raise funds for more peer support workers to be able to chat with our young ones when they are needing this support. Let’s make sure no other family has to go through this grief and heartache. Let’s keep Lachies memory and spirit alive. 

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.

We're taking part in Laps for Life to make sure these vital services are always there. Please donate to our fundraiser and help more young people get the support they deserve.