Heidi Anderson and Paddy Sweeney Run for a Reason

Heidi Anderson and Paddy Sweeney Run for a Reason

Heidi Anderson and Paddy Sweeney Run for a Reason teaser

22 May 2017

92.9's breakfast announcer, Heidi Anderson, and Nine News Perth's Paddy Sweeney will run for Lifeline WA in the 2016 HBF Run for a Reason on Sunday May 28 to raise vital funds for Lifeline WA.

The pair is eager to raise awareness of Lifeline WA’s suicide prevention and crisis support services, a cause particularly meaningful to Ms Anderson, who has bravely spoken publicly about her experience of depression and anxiety. She will run the 4km course for Lifeline WA and is currently in training to improve her time. 
“Running for Lifeline WA means a lot to me; the tireless work these guys do around mental health is outstanding,” she said.

“The support and encouragement they showed me after speaking about my anxiety publicly has been phenomenal.”

Paddy Sweeney has agreed to run the 21 km half-marathon and he hopes to be joined by his colleagues at Nine News Perth who encouraged him to sign up for his first attempt at the distance.
“Since I’ve been working with Lifeline WA I have learnt that about one in every five Australians experiences a mental illness each year,” Mr Sweeney said.

“It costs Lifeline WA $3000 to train one crisis support volunteer with the skills to save a life and that’s why I am aiming to raise that amount.”

“The impact of losing someone to suicide is something that is likely to have touched almost all of us in some way – whether that be a friend, a family member or a colleague.”

Ms Anderson added: “If our help can prompt one person to pick up the phone to Lifeline WA’s 13 11 14 crisis support number, it is well worth our effort to run.”

Lifeline WA receives 55,000 calls per year from Western Australians in crisis, with 15 per cent of these from someone at imminent risk of suicide.

“On Sunday May 28, we will be running to promote the message that it’s OK to reach out for support, that there is always someone at the end of the phone who can help,” Lifeline WA’s Chief Executive Officer, Lorna MacGregor said.

For crisis or suicide prevention support, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit http://crisischat.lifelinewa.org.au

To register for the HBF Run for a Reason www.hbfrun.com.au and select Lifeline WA as your charity to support.
 

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