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Swimming for a cause

Abby Armstrong of Hamilton is preparing to take part in a 22.35 inaugral swim event on the open sea between Upolu and Savai’i in Samoa--the longest open sea race in the Southern Hemisphere.
The 29-year-old swim coach is racing to raise funds and awareness for Youthline.
Her six-day-a-week training routine includes an open water swim and swimming sessions at her local pool.
“I’m training hard to attempt a world first swimming race. There are a couple of reasons why I am determined to complete this challenge. One is that it is a personal goal and the other is to raise awareness for mental health, specifically young girls.
“Not many people are aware that I was a sufferer of mental illness for many years and exercise, particularly swimming, helped me beat my issues. This Samoa swim is the start of a career to inspire and help young people cope with mental illness through exercise and nutrition. The money I raise will be donated to Youthline.”
“I used to swim competitively when I was younger but once I finished school I stopped swimming and went into a bit of a hole with depression post school,” she says. Then she began to swim again...and loves it.

She competed in the NZ Ocean Swim Series and discovered how much she loves training. This inspired her to her compete in the Taupo 10K Swim – she came in first place, which included a $500 prize.
“The money I raise through this swim, beyond the entry fee and expenses will all go to Youthline. Youthline is a youth development organization offering counselling services, information and development programmes to benefit and aid those in need, ultimately I am hoping to work with them in the near future.

“The main reason is to gain the knowledge and experience needed to inspire and enable athletes, especially children, to be the best that they can be,” she says.
“I am currently working with two top swimming clubs within my region, including some of New Zealand’s best up-and-coming swimmers, to develop dry-landtttttt strength training and injury prevention. I get great satisfaction in coaching individual athletes/swimmers that give everything they do 100%, whether it be competing in a Triathlon or in a 200 m swimming race for the first time.
“My motto is, ‘everything is life is achievable if you’re prepared to put in the hard work.’ I’m just an ordinary kiwi girl that works incredibly hard to be the best that I can be in all areas of life. I want to inspire people and prove that anything is possible with the right attitude and a little determination.”
To donate go here: http://givealittle.co.nz/cause/theaverageswimmer

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