We are Marshall

One lap at a time …….

It’s been my absolute pleasure to be part of the Laps for Life campaign. Somewhere along the way, it became more than just laps… it became purpose. To everyone who donated, supported, or followed along — thank you 🙏

Goal complete

Distance done - 1 lap at a time

Grounded

Nothing fancy—just showing up, staying steady, and doing the work. 2,500m in the pool today. Only 1km left to go for Laps for Life… and just about $2,000 raised. Grateful for every bit of support—especially those who’ve been part of the journey along the way. More to come. 🏊‍♂️

Birthday swims

Birthday weekend reflections. This time last year I was in hospital — very unwell and a long way from where I am now. This weekend I was lucky to spend time with family, and get back in the water — Peregian on the Sunshine Coast and the Westin in Brisbane. Filmed a bit of stroke work for my old coach… always learning, always refining. I’ve now got just 3km left to hit my distance goal for Laps for Life. I’m still about $200 short of my fundraising target

Noosa

Long day. Travel used to feel easy… today it wiped me out. Got in the water anyway. Beautiful swim in a beautiful place. Here for a reset… and to see my parents for the first time in a few years. There’s a bit of weight in that.🏊‍♂️🫶 One lap at a time.

1 lap at a time

Reflections on my swim Rainy, glum day. Read about the midway blues — fatigue, motivation dipping. Felt that. So I stopped thinking and just started. 20 minutes, that was the plan. Found a rhythm… focused on stroke, bubbles, breath. A bit of meditation in motion. Life’s the same — one lap at a time. Not every lap is perfect. But you show up. Pulled up and saw: 25:47 / 1550m I only planned 20 minutes. But when you trust the process, you go further than you expect. Grateful to be here. One lap at a time. 🫶

Session done

A swim mate saw the fundraiser and sent me this set. ( photo in gallery ) Back in the water, one lap at a time.

Reached fundraising goal

Not quite halfway through month, and going strong. have more than half my 25km done and last night I reached my fundraising goal Wooo Hooo !! Big shout out to all that have so far donated, it’s so humbling to receive that support for my effort and huge love goes out to you all. I have increased my target to $1500 so more children in need of help can get it. 🙏🫶

15km swum - 10km to go

Swam another 2.5 km today as part of my Laps for Life swim for youth mental health and suicide prevention. After stroke and heart issues last year, every lap now feels like a small win. So far we’ve reached $830 of the $1000 goal. Thank you to everyone who has supported the cause.

Into the ocean i go - to ease my mind and soothe my soul.

Happy Hump Day! This morning was such a clear and sunny day that I decided to head down to the ocean and swim 7 × 300m circuits of Little Bay in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. Sydney really does have some of the most beautiful and picturesque ocean swim locations in the world. The water was a perfect 23°C and crystal clear, and as I swam through this little oasis I found myself reflecting on how fortunate we are simply to wake up each day breathing, with the chance to experience moments like this. It also made me think about how difficult life can feel for many young people today. If only more of our youth could see that light at the end of the tunnel and feel able to reach out for help before making tragic decisions. This is why I swim. I was fortunate to be given a talent for swimming, and even more fortunate to have lived long enough to gain the wisdom to use that gift for something that might help others. Through Laps for Life, I’m swimming to help raise awareness and funds for youth mental health support, so that more young people have somewhere to turn when life feels overwhelming.

Recovering from illness

Why I swim- today as well as keeping in mind the fundraising cause I reflected on my own personal journey. Although I have a swiiming background, its been 15 years or more since I challenged my body as hard as i did last week. I may have neglected to consider my age and my own fight back from a near death health issue/s In March last year I was hospitalised for a lung embolism and soon after with a stroke, heart failure and a kidney clot. I spent 20 days in accute services fightighg fop lrife, thoug for 3/4 of the time I was mostly asleep and unaware of the true severity of my condition. As i came to grip with the huge lefestyle challenges, medication regime and continuous doctors and hospital visits, I soon realised a few things - 1/. I couldnt do the things I used to push my body tghrough 2/. I had a second chance to make my own life and those closest to me better. So this week I have set less ardious expectations on myself but still allow for malking my target goals. Instead of swiiming 2-3km 3 time per week, I would swim 1.5-2 km per day and spend more time working my technique, kick sets, warm uo and down as well as some stretching and light band work. Today i used all my swim kit to do- 300 swim ( 50m Backstroke / 50m Freestyle ) 300m fins on drill with snorkel, 300m pull paddles alternating 50's backstroke / freestyle, 300m fin kick Backstroke, 4 x 50 my breathing 3-5-7-9 , 100 swim down. total 1800m. Recovery is important and I thi mk gels with how much preasure we feel and our youth feel to make unrealistic deadlines and expectations. We are all just humans and need to be compssionate to our selves and others. When just $52 will help support free one-on-one coaching for parents, giving them strategies and resources to help their teen through challenges, why not donate!

We’re 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. 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.