Southland children ‘swim out’ to raise thousands for charity I am Hope

Brittney Johnston, head coach of the Johnston Waters Swimming School, organized a 24-hour swimathon at the Central Southland Community Pool from 9pm on Friday evening to raise money for 'I Am Hope'. Pictured with her from left are Kenzie Helman, 9, of Wairio, Holly Turner, 8, and her brother Jack Turner, 10, both of Opio. All four swam during the fundraiser.

Robyn Edie/Stuff/Stuff

Brittney Johnston, head coach of the Johnston Waters Swimming School, organized a 24-hour swimathon at the Central Southland Community Pool from 9pm on Friday evening to raise money for ‘I Am Hope’. Pictured with her from left are Kenzie Helman, 9, of Wairio, Holly Turner, 8, and her brother Jack Turner, 10, both of Opio. All four swam during the fundraiser.

Children have helped raise thousands of dollars for a charity that delivers mental health talks in schools — just weeks after three young adults died in the region.

Fundraiser organizer Brittney Johnston said about $10,000 had been raised so far for the I am Hope charity, which aims to promote positive change around mental health and provide hope and a voice for young people in schools.

The money was raised through a 24-hour swimathon at the Central Southland Community Pool in Winton, organized by the Johnston Waters Swimming Club of which Johnston is head coach.

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Johnston said she supported the I Am Hope foundation by doing more counseling in schools so that young people can be supported.

“We wanted to do it because we wanted to make a difference in schools.”

Nearly 60 swimmers, mainly young people, took part in the 24-hour swimathon.

Two lanes were open for 24 hours, with swimmers taking turns ensuring that one person swam in each of the two lanes during the fundraiser. A total of 5710 lengths of the 25 meter pool were swum, a total of 129.25 km.

“The kids put their hearts and souls into it…they swam their guts out,” she said.

Three young adults from Southland had died in recent weeks, one in an accident, one suddenly and one from a medical event, and several whanau had supported the swimathon fundraiser.

Johnston said the fundraiser was organized before the dead.

She was saddened by the loss of the young Southlanders.

“That’s the only word I can use, it’s very sad.”

— Where to get help