Swimming for Sean

News story from Star Weekly, published 29 September 2025

Kirsten and Sean McKinney at Gisborne Aquatic Centre in 2018

In 2018, Sean and his daughter Kristen McKinney hosted a 2866-lap swimming challenge at the Gisborne Aquatic Centre – one lap for every life lost to suicide in the previous year. Starting at 6am, people of all ages were invited to swim a continuous relay in memory of those that died by suicide.

This event, and the follow up the next year, both raised vital money for youth mental health and suicide prevention charity Live4Life.

Now an annual event hosted by Live4Life, the charity is proud to continue Sean’s legacy, as Australians dive into pools across the country from October 1 to 28 to swim laps to coincide with World Mental Health Month.

Sean McKinney passed away on October 27 2024 following a debilitating illness. This year’s event will honour and remember the grassroots efforts of the challenge started by Sean and his daughter.

“Sean was keen for the event to go national. With his and Kirsten’s blessing, the event was re-named Lap it Up in 2022. We have always been conscious to recognise and acknowledge the important role Sean and Kirsten played in the development of Lap it Up and I always kept Sean updated on its progress each year,” Live4Life chief executive officer Bernard Galbally said.

This year, Lap it Up has teamed up with Macedon Ranges business Josh’s Rainbow Eggs to remember Sean with a weekend of matched funding, starting on World Mental Health Day on Friday, October 10.

Every dollar raised by Lap it Up swimmers will be doubled by Josh’s Rainbow Eggs in honour of Sean.

More information: lapitup.org.au