UnLtd.
Advertising industry swimmers have raised more than $33,000 to help de-stigmatise mental health.
A team of 33 swimmers from oOh!media, UM, NOVA, Special Group and UnLtd collectively swam more than 430km, raising funds for batyr’s mental health education programs for young people across Australia.
oOh!media Brisbane business manager Grace Bertossi auctioned off a tattoo, with the winning bidder choosing the design.
Bertossi said she wanted to do something different to the usual office fundraisers.
“We’ve done sausage sizzles, raffles, bake-offs — even auctioned off favours like car park swaps. This time I thought… why not raise the stakes?” Bertossi said.
“I sent an email to the office: you donate, you decide my tattoo. When Emma Dixon’s winning bid came through I was equal parts excited and terrified — my brain immediately started imagining the worst.
"At one point someone suggested the Panthers logo, so you can understand the panic. Luckily Emma was kind and chose a tattoo of my dog… although the appointment hasn’t happened yet, so I’m staying very much on her good side.”
The furthest distance swam was by UnLtd’s national partnerships manager Emma Davis who swam a total of 51km during the challenge.
“Splashing the stigma of mental health means so much to me. Every year I swim for my kids and use it to open up that conversation — that’s the ultimate success for me,” said Davis.
Seeing our industry come together, getting active and supporting this cause has been amazing for my own mental health, and knowing it’s raising funds for youth mental health makes it even more special.”
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