The Head Above Water 24 Hour Swimathon returns to Collaroy Rockpool for the fifth year, after raising over $540,000 from 2019 to 2022 for mental fitness programs across the Northern Beaches and throughout Australia.
Head Above Water was founded by Collaroy Plateau local Andrew ‘Wardy’ Ward and a bunch of his good mates in response to the high rate of suicide on the Northern Beaches and the mental health challenges faced by many in the community. As Wardy says, “Having faced my own challenges, I wanted to create an event that combined physical activity with the power of community to make a positive difference to people’s lives. And so, the idea of the Head Above Water 24-hour swim was born.”
Over the last five years, Head Above Water has partnered with Gotcha4Life (founded by TV and Radio personality, Gus Worland) to help fund mental fitness workshops, presentations and training including Man Anchor, Tomorrow Man and Tomorrow Woman, as well as directly funding courses from the Sit (formerly Meditation for Men) and Peerhear telehealth services. From 2019 to 2022, over 270 programs have been facilitated, reaching 8,750 men, women, boys and girls across Northern Beaches schools, sports clubs, businesses, and community groups. This work is ensuring we all strive for a healthier and more meaningful life, for ourselves and those around us, helping address the tragic reality that eight people in Australia lose their life to suicide every day.
To that end, in recognition of the positive effect that Head Above Water is having, Wardy was the recipient of the 2023 Outstanding Community Award at the Northern Beaches Australia Day Awards. Much deserved recognition not only for him, but for all volunteers, sponsors and partners that help make Head Above Water the success that it is.
This year’s swim begins at 9am on Saturday, March 4th and will finish at 9am on Sunday, March 5th. There are four lanes to cater for all levels of swimming ability and people can choose to swim as many, or as few laps as they like. From 9am to 10am there will be the hotly contested Team Relay where some of the peninsula’s finest sports clubs, swimming clubs, surf clubs, fitness clubs and schools will compete to be crowned relay champions.
When it comes to fundraising, every swimmer can raise money via their own sponsorship page or can form a team to raise even more money. This year, there is over $5,000 worth of prizes up for grabs and any individual swimmer who raises over $300 is automatically in the draw for a chance to win their share. Every donation helps create stronger connections and makes a positive difference throughout the community; every $40 raised funds a participant to attend a workshop, every $75 raised funds a 1-hour session with a qualified counsellor, every $700 raised funds a 6-week meditation course and every $4,000 raised funds 2 x 50- person workshops.
The success of Head Above Water is perhaps best summed up by Gus Worland himself, who says, “The Head Above Water swim is one of the best 24 hours our community can experience. With so much money and awareness raised, it’s an amazing day.”
What Gus said. See you poolside at Head Above Water 2023.
To register for the swim, visit headabovewater2023.raisely.com
To donate directly to Head Above Water, visit haw-general-donation.raisely.com