TWO Sacred Heart College students have used their lived experiences as motivation to raise money for mental health awareness.<\/p>\n
Year 12 students Lucy Wood and Alicia Hawkins are hosting a fundraising event in August with proceeds going to youth mental health organisation Headspace.<\/p>\n
“We do this thing called ‘community project’ where we get to choose an issue in our community that we feel strongly about and try to make a difference,” Ms Wood said.<\/p>\n
“Alicia and I both suffer from mental health and she sadly lost a friend to suicide last year.<\/p>\n
“We knew we wanted to do something about it and felt so strongly about this issue.”<\/p>\n
While the pair agree the Geelong region has plenty of support services for people suffering mental health issues, they say Headspace is the place that most young people know about.<\/p>\n
“We both have had interactions with Headspace and we feel like they need the funds to cater for more people,” she said.<\/p>\n
“There are long waiting lists that make it hard to seek help.<\/p>\n
“When you’re in crisis as a teenager, Headspace is the first place that comes to mind so it’s the best place to put money towards.<\/p>\n
“If we raise money and awareness, it will mean more people can get help.”<\/p>\n
The August 3 fundraiser has already attracted donations from up to 15 businesses in the community, offering goods or services as raffle prizes to be won on the night.<\/p>\n
“So far we have mostly received hairdressing vouchers, hypnotherapy vouchers, flotation therapy pass, hair products, personal training vouchers, food vouchers, someone is building outdoor furniture and earrings donated by a local jeweller worth $170,” she said.<\/p>\n
“People are really here for it because everyone has had some sort of experience with mental health.”<\/p>\n
The community project is a major part of Sacred Heart’s VCAL program that Year 12 students look forward to each year.<\/p>\n
“We knew what we wanted to do, and we have already got the night planned,” Ms Wood said.<\/p>\n
“The teachers have been so supportive of us, they are letting us host it at the school and they have organised caterers that will come to the event.<\/p>\n
“They have let us pick a project we are passionate about which has allowed us to put our full potential into it.”<\/p>\n
The event will take place at Sacred Heart College, Newtown, on August 3 from 6.30pm to 9.30pm.<\/p>\n
To donate a prize contact Lucy Wood on 0400 065 744.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
TWO Sacred Heart College students have used their lived experiences as motivation to raise money for mental health awareness. Year 12 students Lucy Wood and Alicia Hawkins are hosting a fundraising event in August with proceeds going to youth mental health organisation Headspace. “We do this thing called ‘community project’ where we get to choose […]<\/p>\n