Swimming out of Darkness
Swimming out of Darkness is a fundraiser I have created for Beyond Blue to tackle the stigma surrounding mental health by encouraging open conversation about anxiety, depression, and suicide. Beyond Blue's mission is to equip everyone in Australia with the knowledge and skills to achieve their best possible mental health.
My inspiration and motivation for this fundraiser is my older brother Liam, who we tragically lost to suicide in the summer of 2021, and my uncle Colin who we lost to suicide in the summer of 2011. They were both lovers of the ocean and the outdoors, and both battled with mental health.
In the weeks following my brother’s death I moved to a new town away from my supports, began a new highly stressful job, and was heavily grieving and battling with my own mental health. Ocean swimming is how I have kept my own mental health in check. It strengthens mental confidence and resilience, forces mindfulness, and results in a big dopamine hit.
During the winter months of 2021 I will be challenging myself to swim in the ocean every single day (that’s 92 days in a row!) The rules I have set for this challenge are:
1. No wetsuit
2. Natural bodies of water only (ocean pools are accepted)
3. Complete submersion
Throughout winter I will be documenting my daily swims on my personal Instagram account @anhorsey.
I am based in the Newcastle/Central Coast areas so if you are interested in joining me for an ocean swim during the cold season I’ll happily share my location.
Or if you wish join my challenge from distant waters use the hashtag #swimmingoutofdarkness to spread the message far and wide that we are breaking down the barriers that prevent people from speaking up and reaching out.
We all have good days an bad days, but it always helps to share the load.
Call Beyond Blue: 1300224636
My inspiration and motivation for this fundraiser is my older brother Liam, who we tragically lost to suicide in the summer of 2021, and my uncle Colin who we lost to suicide in the summer of 2011. They were both lovers of the ocean and the outdoors, and both battled with mental health.
In the weeks following my brother’s death I moved to a new town away from my supports, began a new highly stressful job, and was heavily grieving and battling with my own mental health. Ocean swimming is how I have kept my own mental health in check. It strengthens mental confidence and resilience, forces mindfulness, and results in a big dopamine hit.
During the winter months of 2021 I will be challenging myself to swim in the ocean every single day (that’s 92 days in a row!) The rules I have set for this challenge are:
1. No wetsuit
2. Natural bodies of water only (ocean pools are accepted)
3. Complete submersion
Throughout winter I will be documenting my daily swims on my personal Instagram account @anhorsey.
I am based in the Newcastle/Central Coast areas so if you are interested in joining me for an ocean swim during the cold season I’ll happily share my location.
Or if you wish join my challenge from distant waters use the hashtag #swimmingoutofdarkness to spread the message far and wide that we are breaking down the barriers that prevent people from speaking up and reaching out.
We all have good days an bad days, but it always helps to share the load.
Call Beyond Blue: 1300224636
Organizer
Anna Robertson
Organizer
Bar Beach, NSW
Beyond Blue Limited
Beneficiary