BRABHAM athlete Maka Pugliese-Thompson will take on a 100km swim to raise funds and awareness for youth mental health at a major community endurance effort at Scarborough Beach Pool next month.

Swimming 25km a day over four days from November 4 to 7, the challenge aims to spark open conversations, reduce stigma, and empower young Western Australians to seek support before reaching crisis point.

All funds raised through the event will directly benefit Zero2Hero, a Western Australian youth mental health charity dedicated to educating and engaging young people to prevent suicide.

Ms Pugliese-Thompson said the motivation behind the swim goes far beyond completing laps in a pool.

“Youth mental health is just so important and knowing that for young people aged 13 to 19 the leading cause of death is suicide, it’s vital to have resources available,” she said.

“When young people are going through a mental health crisis, they turn to their friends first.

“Equipping young people with the right education and knowledge to support their mates can make all the difference.”

Choosing to complete a 100km swim was a deliberate decision for the athlete to step entirely outside her comfort zone.

“I am not a swimmer at all, which is why I chose this challenge,” she said.

“If I’m going to do something challenging, it’s about that mental hurdle, because it’s for youth mental health.

“Showing that if I can get through something that I find mentally challenging, it can inspire others to face their own obstacles.”

Ms Pugliese-Thompson first learned about Zero2Hero through a teammate and was drawn to their focus on early prevention and youth empowerment camps.

“They run education camps where young people spend a week without phones, learning so much about themselves,” she said.

“Instead of just being a charity that helps after a mental health crisis, they help prevent it, and that really clicked for me.”

Balancing university studies, football commitments, and rigorous training, Ms Pugliese-Thompson hopes her efforts will unite the local community around a vital
cause.

Community members, local businesses and supporters can follow her progress and contribute directly to the campaign online through her MyCause fundraising page.