Lifeline Out of the Shadows walk to support to support suicide prevention

Queenscliff Football Netball Club member Tom Limb is taking part in Lifeline Out of the Shadows Walk by walking 38 kilometers to honour of former teammate Lucas Niven, who donned the number during his career at the Coutas.

Saturday, September 10, is World Suicide Prevention Day and Lifeline is encouraging people to take part in a 9km walk to acknowledge the nine Australians lost to suicide each day. Tragically, every year over 65,500 Australians attempt to take their own life and over 3,000 Australians die by suicide.

Tom and his wife Bianca will join others across the region who will be walking as part of Team Nivs, in memory of Lucas, who died in 2018.

“My wife Bianca and I are really looking forward to doing the walk to pay tribute to our friend Lucas who unfortunately took his life in 2018,” the three-time BFL premiership player said.

“During Lucas’ time at the club he wore 38, and we thought it was a nice touch to walk that length and attempt to journey from Rippleside in Geelong along the rail trail to finish up at the Queenscliff Football Netball Club.

“My wife Bianca used to volunteer at Lifeline on the phones for several years and that has given us an insight into the fantastic work they do and how the funds raised are used to make sure the calls are answered when people need it most.

“It’s a great cause and one we are looking forward to supporting this weekend.”

Lifeline receive more than one million contacts from people in crisis each year, however are always on the lookout for support in their bid to provide suicide prevention services for those in need.

To raise funds for the work they do, Lifeline’s Geelong Barwon Region walk will encourage people in the locality to remember a loved one, walk to pay tribute to a friend or family member, or to show their support for Australians experiencing emotional distress or mental illness.

Team Nivs has raised more than $3000 thanks to the support from generous locals, friends and Lucas’s family including his father Chris Niven and Emma who are walking 9 kilometers and raising money for the cause.

The team plan to meet post walk at the Queenscliff Brewhouse for a late lunch and drink to celebrate the occasion.

Donations as small as $39 can help connect and assist one person in crisis in our region.

The community can register to be apart of the cause and can donate to Lifeline Geelong Barwon Region at outoftheshadowswalk.org.au/fundraisers/lifelinegeelong

To access the Lifeline crisis line, call 13 11 14.