Anchor and The Salvation Army have joined forces to raise money for local youth homelessness in the Yarra Ranges. Staff members from both organisations, including Anchor’s CEO Heidi Tucker and Partnership Lead Lauren Gordon, will be members of a five person team which will compete in the historic Double RIP Swim on 16 January, 2022.
All members of Anchor’s team are competitive long distance swimmers or ironmen triathletes.
It is the first time a Double RIP Swim – a 7km double crossing from Pt Lonsdale to Pt Nepean – has ever been held and the event sold out in less than 24 hours.
Participating swimmers have the opportunity to swim for a charity and Race Director Grant Siedle, who knew of Anchor’s work through our CEO and experienced marathon swimmer Heidi Tucker, was keen to have the organisation involved. The Anchor team will be aiming to both raise awareness of youth homelessness in the Yarra Ranges and to hopefully raise funds to support Anchor’s youth services.
Anchor’s CEO Heidi Tucker said that youth homelessness is at a critical point in the Yarra Ranges.
“Anchor is a small agency which is able to provide targeted and specialised services to young people located in the outer eastern and southern suburbs of Melbourne who do not have the family support they need to find a safe place to call home.
“Young people who are at risk of homelessness are often disengaged from school and the community. Anchor’s Youth Development Service provides vulnerable young people with access to stable accommodation and support so they can continue their education and gain employment.
“I am very excited to be preparing for this swim which will help raise awareness of the issues,” Ms Tucker said.
She is the only member of the Anchor team who is lucky enough to live bayside so is able to train in the ocean during Melbourne’s lockdown. The other four team members are all swimming in Lysterfield Lake and dams around the Yarra Ranges area in preparation for the Double RIP Swim.
For further information on how to support Anchor’s Double RIP Swim team, please visit:
https://doubleripswim22.grassrootz.com/anchor-inc
