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Susan Stafford

I'm swimming to save lives

  • This is my first year diving

  • in for youth mental health

Did you know suicide is the leading cause of death for young people in Australia?

That means that each year more young people die by suicide than in car accidents or from cancer.

This March, I'm swimming to make sure young people in Australia have the mental health support they urgently need.

By sponsoring my challenge, you’ll be helping to prevent youth suicide.

All funds raised will help young people feel better about today and the future, no matter what challenge they're facing.

Laps for Life 2024 -final figures!

March was an amazing month! Swimming every day bar 4, has not only raised funds for a very worthy cause but has also been a blessing for me. My fitness has certainly improved as a result. 

Swimming in honour of Aleks and Elise kick started this journey and to conclude I dedicated this swim to my mother who instilled in me a great sense of social justice and faith. I love you and I miss you Mum, but every day you continue to inspire me to become a better person!

The final figures, (although I just found out people can donate until the end of April) are:

Awesome total raised by 10,520 swimmers for youth mental health: $3,415,656

Amount raised by us: $3861.

Thank you so much to everyone who contributed to this tally: family, friends, Mossman Rotary Club and Sheraton Mirage Country Club.

Our contribution alone has

 provided 965 young people experiencing mental health difficulties with vital support.!!


Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You are all amazing!!!

It's the last day....

So thrilled to make it to the last day - one last swim to go!! 
It's been amazing in more ways than one.

And one last chance to jump on board and contribute to such a worthy cause. Be the change you wish to see in the world and make every day count!

I have surpassed my expectations in fundraising and the amount of kilometres swum. Stay tuned for final figures in my final post tomorrow....

Thank you so much to all who have supported me in any way, I am extremely grateful. As will be the young recipients and their parents, for the increased awareness, support and programmes this funding will provide!! Well done team!!

Happy heavenly birthday today Mum - you are my inspiration and role model!! xxx

Wishing you all the blessings of Easter today and always!

Countdown - 6 days to go!!

I am in the home stretch now with only six days to go as the challenge finishes on Easter Sunday March 31st.

It's been an amazing experience and despite the challenge of swimming every day for the month, bar three, it has invigorated me and improved my fitness for sure.

I am very grateful and appreciative to all my encouragers and financial supporters so far. You have motivated me to get out the door and get it down. Special thanks to Mossman Rotary Club for their encouragement and financial support, and to the idyllic Sheraton Mirage Country Club who sponsored free entry to swim my laps.

I am pleased to announce that I have overtaken both my laps and fundraising goals. Rather than 20km I am now aiming for 31 plus, which is on track, as I am currently sitting on 25 kms. 

I have more than doubled my $1000 fundraising target, but would love to push it up even more, as our young people deserve and need as much support as possible. No pressure on anyone - if you can spare $5 or $10 to add by March 31st, I would be more than grateful, as ultimately our younger generations are the beneficiaries.

I will finish this challenge on March 31st which is my Mum's heavenly birthday- a poignant day for me to finish. 
I have been swimming in honour of Aleks and Elise and others who tragically took their own lives. 
On March 31st this swim will be devoted not only to them, but also to my beautiful Mum, who died when I was 23. 

Please help me make it the best ever!! 
Thank you so  much!


Laps for Life - clocking up the k's...

It's Day 14 and nearly half way until the end of March when this challenge ends.

I am very pleased to report that all is going really well and I have clocked up just under 13 kms so far. After today's swim that will be more. 

Thanks to all my amazing donors, I have well surpassed my initial fundraising goal which is fantastic. So far the tally is just under $1800, but I don't want to stop there.

Youth suicide is such a  big issue in our community and is often overlooked. The more funds we can generate together, then the bigger impact we as a society can make. With more funds, more young people (and their families) will have more hope! They need to hear loud and clear just how many people in our communities value, support and care for them!

So please get on board with a small (or more) donation - every bit helps and it will also help me get the job done. I have upped my swimming goal from 20 to 31 kms which equates to 1 km a day for every day in the month of March!

Special thanks to Mossman Rotary Club and my fellow members - a small group of dedicated people making a positive difference in the world -for their financial support and encouragement of me!

Thanks again to the Sheraton Mirage Country Club in Port Douglas for sponsoring my use of their beautiful 25 metre pool - see image with this post!

Aleks and Elise you spur me on! As does Joe, my friend Ross' son. All tragically gone too soon. xxx

Keep posted for more updates in the coming weeks....

Up and swimming!

Day 1 done and dusted! Only 30 to go.
Today I got off to a solid start towards my 20km goal, swimming just under 800 metres. Working my way up to 1 km a day which hopefully won't take long.

Thank you very much to the Mirage Country Club Port Douglas for their support and sponsoring me for the use of their beautifully located pool in paradise.

A big thank you to all my amazing sponsors and encouragers and my kick off swimming buddy today! Not far off my fundraising goal but hoping to go above and beyond for this worthy cause.

With each lap I contemplate the lives lost and the trauma families must experience when a young person takes their own life. They are sobering thoughts which I am sure will keep me on track for the remainder of the month.

Stay tuned for more updates!! 

Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

Raised

$4,165

My Goal

$1,000

Select amount to donate

$52
$89
$128
$245
$
Donate

My Swim Progress

I've swum

35.03km (1,401 laps)

My Goal

31km

How do you compare to other participants?

Average Distance Swum: 16m

Average Distance Goal: 18KM

My Impact

So far this year I helped provide...

1041

Young people with vital mental health support.

Fundraising Progress

Raised

$4165

My Goal

$1,000

So far, you’ve raised 416% of your fundraising goal!

Raised

$0

My Team Goal

$0

So far, you’ve raised nan% of your fundraising goal!

Raised

$3,466,422

All Goal

$3,600,000

So far, you’ve raised 97% of your fundraising goal!

Thank you to my Sponsors

Life-Saving Donation

$316.50

Erica Mast

You are the most amazing Susan!!!!

Life-Saving Donation

$245

Robyn Gray

Life-Saving Donation

$245

Matched by Neilson Foundation and The Gonski Foundation

$211

Celia Brenchley

Well done Susan! Thanks to Mirage for allowing access for the fundraising and for Susan having the perseverance to follow through .

$128

Susan Stafford

$128

Matched by The GPT Group

$109.72

Susan Stafford

$109.72

Matched by Reef Shark Foundation

$105.50

Claire Gleeson

Great work Susan xx

$105.50

Mary McL

On the home stretch now, Susan; well done!

$105.50

Aija Brumby

Thank you Susan for embracing this cause to help prevent youth suicides 😘💔💔

$105.50

Anonymous

$105.50

Dee-Anne & Mark Simms

Great cause Susan, good on you!

$105.50

Sharyn Grinter

$104

Sheryl Summons

Well done Susan - such a great cause.

$101

Corey McLaughlin

Amazing stuff Mum! Very inspirational xx

$101

Matched by The GPT Group

$101

Victoria Nolasco

A very worthy cause Susan. Happy to donate ❤️

$81.24

Lyn Gray

Great effort Susan - thought we’d round you up to an even no. 😁 Tim and Lyn

$63.30

Leonnie Sim

Good for you Susan x

$63.30

Debra King

You go girl.... For the purpose and cause, and for your lovely Mum, whom we all miss. Swim well and lap it my friend!

$62.40

Angela Woodman

So impressed Susan with your effort, and commitment to support and help others in the community

$56.16

Lyn Gray

Good on you Susan …. Such a worthy cause. I’m sure your fundraising and your personal support to this family will make a huge difference!! 🙏😘😇

$55

Facebook Donation

$55

Facebook Donation

$54.86

Tilda Dodson

Amazing Susan!!

$54.86

Anthony Conn

Good on you Susan! I hope you reach your target and more for such an important cause!

$52.75

Anonymous

Good on Ya Susan

$52.75

Mary West

Your amazing

$52.75

Matched by Neilson Foundation and The Gonski Foundation

$52.75

Anonymous

Well done Susan

$52.75

Bill Stafford

$50

Annie Maher

$50

Marie Clifford

Go Susan!

$50

Matched by The GPT Group

$50

Brenda Mittelman

$50

Matched by Neilson Foundation and The Gonski Foundation

$50

Rolly

Good on you Susan, you are one the world’s good people

$50

Kym Clifford

Go Susan!

$50

Matched by The GPT Group

$50

Tin Yeoh

$42.20

Natasha Perduv

Amazing job Susan!! ❤️❤️

$40

Angela Stafford

Wonderful effort Sue with your swimming and fundraising!

$40

Brodie McLaughlin

Good job mum!

$40

Sharon Perduv

Keep up the good work Susan 😊

$26.38

Peter Agar

$26.38

Anonymous

You go girl love always

$26.38

ROBERT STAFFORD

Go Susan

$22.16

Anonymous

$21.10

Kaylene Baird

Well done Sue, such an important cause mate. Love Kaylene

$16.64

Anonymous

$15

Matched by Neilson Foundation and The Gonski Foundation

$15

Anonymous

$10.55

Declan McLaughlin

Go Mum!

$10.50

Lyn Percic

Keep it up Susan 🌟

$9.49

Anonymous

$5

Evelyn Matthews

$5

Matched by Neilson Foundation and The Gonski Foundation