Parra News March 14 2023

LOCAL NEWS
Darley makes a splash
Parramatta Councillor takes to the pool for Laps for Life fundraising initiative
ELLIE BUSBY
A
Parramatta Councillor is swimming
to save lives this month as part of the
Laps for Life fundraiser.
Throughout March, local Councillor Kellie
Darley will be diving into Epping Aquatic
Centre to help make sure young people in
Australia have the mental health support they
urgently need.
Kicking off her Laps for Life fundraiser,
Darley will be raising vital funds for Reach
Out.
Anonymous and confidential, ReachOut
is a safe place that provides a wide range of
support options that allow young people to
engage in the ways they want to, when they
want to.
With more than one in three young people
experiencing mental health difficulties, and
suicide remaining the leading cause of death
for young Australians aged 16 to 24, Darley
knew Laps for Life was something she had to
get involved with.
“I was shocked when I found out how many
young people die every year from suicide,”
Darley told Parra News.
“I’ve been swimming for my own mental
health and for exercise at Epping Pool and I
just thought [Laps for Life] was a great way to
raise awareness of the need for more mental
health services for young people.”
Kellie Darley is taking part in the Laps for Life fundraiser.
Darley has committed to swimming an
average of 10 laps a day, which will be about
15km in total for the month. And although
she said she’s feeling quite sore from all the
swimming, Darley has found it has already
significantly helped with her own mental
health.
“It’s just lovely, particularly the Epping Pool,
to spend half an hour, 40 minutes, in the water
for just some down time from everything else
going on,” she said.
“I’ve let my health go, which can happen
particularly as a mum and being a new Councillor,
and there’s not enough hours in the day
so I really wanted to prioritise my health this
year and at the same time raise money for a
really great cause.”
Having already surpassed her initial
fundraising target of $600, Darley has been
amazed at the support she has received from
the community so far.
She’s now encouraging more people to help
save lives by donating to her fundraiser to
improve mental health services for young
people.
“These are preventable deaths, 400 kids
every year and you think about all the families..
I would hate to be a parent who loses
their child to suicide, it would just be horrific,”
she said.
“So, even just starting that conversation
[and] people being aware of the services
available, particularly parents whose kids are
moving into their teenage years and just what
helps there, is all really important.”
To donate to Darley’s fundraiser head
to www.lapsforlife.com.au/fundraisers/
kelliedarley.
If you or someone you know is in need of
support go to au.reachout.com or contact
Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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