Mayor and CEO to make a splash for men’s mental health at 2025 Swim for Life
The Mayor and CEO of the City of Stirling will swap their suits for swimmers this Sunday as they take on an endurance swimming challenge for men’s mental health.
The seventh annual Swim for Life will run over two days this weekend at Stirling Leisure – Inglewood, where 20 teams will take the plunge for charity.
A Community Fun Day will be held on Sunday, with Perth Glory player appearances, a 6PR live broadcast, pool inflatables, an obstacle course, food trucks, giveaways and more from 10.00am – 3.00pm.
The Swim for Life supports Mens Talk, a Scarborough-based charity on a mission to break down the stigma around men’s mental health.
This year’s fundraising target is a record $250,000, which would allow Mens Talk to expand the reach of their free services, from drop-in support hubs to one-on-one mentoring.
There are two relay-style events at the Swim for Life – a 24-hour swim starting at 5.00pm on Saturday and a nine-hour swim starting at 8.00am on Sunday.
City of Stirling Mayor Mark Irwin and CEO Stevan Rodic have signed up for the nine-hour event in a team of four, alongside the City’s Manager Recreation and Leisure Services Cheyne Cameron and Operations Coordinator Duncan Hutton.
“We have seen the positive impacts of Mens Talk and we all know how important this event is for them, so we’re looking forward to showing our support in in the pool,” Mayor Irwin said.
“Suicide is the leading cause of death for Australian males aged 15-44 and a huge part of the problem is that a lot of men don’t feel comfortable talking about their mental health.
“Mens Talk does a great job of creating environments where men can have those vital conversations and get some support.
“I’d love to see our local community down there on Sunday enjoying the festivities and supporting a very worthy cause.”
To learn more and donate, visit Swim for Life.
