Run for miles, Ski For Life – all in the name of preventing suicide
Twenty-year-old Lachlan Thomas will soon take part in a 456 kilometre water ski from Murray Bridge to Renmark. But before he tackles Ski For Life, the aspiring young Teacher has given himself a challenge of a different kind.
In a mammoth effort to raise awareness and funds for suicide prevention, Lachlan will set off from the Thomas family farm between Tailem Bend and Meningie this Saturday, on a 58 kilometre charity run to Sturt Reserve in Murray Bridge.
Currently in pre-season footy training for Jervois Bluds, endurance running is a whole new ball-game for Lachlan, whose longest run to date has been just over 20 kilometres.
“I’ve been balancing footy training and the long run prep, which has been a bit of a challenge. At times I’ve stretched myself pretty thin with training but I feel as though I’ve done enough to survive,” he said.
As the run route passes through Jervois, Lachlan hopes to drum up a bit of support from the footy boys, as he jogs past the club. And if his home team’s support so far is anything to go by, he won’t be enduring the long run alone.
“The local team’s been supporting me the whole way through the process, and I’ve been overwhelmed at the support I’ve had from the whole community,”
“The part that has made the whole process of the run so much easier is the amount of people that have asked if they can join me for a leg or two. At this stage around 30 people will be joining me at some point over the 58km journey, which means there won’t be a single step I will have to take on the journey alone. It will definitely make the mental side of the run so much easier.”
And positive mental health is what it’s all about.
Growing up a stone’s throw from the Murray River, Lachlan began kneeboarding and skiing from a young age, before mastering the art of wakeboarding and barefooting. Modestly, he says he’s not amazing at any of it, but just being behind the boat is what he loves best.
“The thing I love about regional SA is the sense of community”
The Ski for Life team is a Thomas family affair – including Mum and Dad, Nadia and James, brother Callum and his partner Bella, Lachlan’s partner Georgia and family friends Jules and Tull.
About 400 water-skiers will hit the River at Sturt Reserve on March 8, embarking on the 3 day, 456km water-skiing relay, with overnight stops at Blanchetown and Cobdogla, before finishing up at Renmark on March 10.
But for now, Lachlan’s sites are set on a dry start as he prepares for his charity run. Aiming to run into Sturt Reserve mid afternoon on Saturday, a celebration will be held at Murray Bridge Community Club, with a small auction to aid fundraising efforts.
Incredibly, the Thomas Team’s goal was to raise $5,000 for Ski for Life, but with a big show of community support, they are well on their way to $10k – reinforcing the thing Lachlan loves most about living in regional SA.
“I’ve lived in both regional SA and the City and the thing I love about regional SA is the sense of community and a community’s ability to rally together for a good cause,” he said.
To follow Lachlan’s progress on Saturday Feb 10, you can stay in the loop on Instagram @teamthomas.sfl
Or to donate click here
