By Sheree Hoddinett
Are you ready to take the icy plunge? Get ready to dip more than just your toes as The Empowerment Arena hosts a fundraiser for mental health, which also happens to coincide with International Ice Bath Day on March 1.
The event is being held as an opportunity to bring awareness around the holistic ways we can improve our mental health and establish healthier coping mechanisms. It will be held at the Beachmere Sports Complex and all profits will go to Beyond Blue, a fantastic organisation supporting mental health.
When it comes to making your health a priority, chances are it’s something you put on the backburner. This is something event organiser Jessy Jay knows all too well and a big part of why she decided to host a fundraiser to see if she can help make a difference in the lives of others.
“This event is an opportunity to come together as a community, support mental health and inspire others to prioritise their well-being,” Jessy said. “As someone with firsthand experience of living with depression and anxiety, I’ve been on a journey of holistic healing for over a decade. “My goal has been to improve my quality of life and break the cycle for my children by becoming a positive role model. I want to showcase healthier, alternative ways to manage stress, grief, trauma and mental health challenges.”
These methods include:
Exercise
Healthy food
Breathwork
Ice baths
“Through this event, I hope to inspire others to explore these options and create positive change in their lives,” Jessy said.
What can you expect on the day? There will be yoga, a bodyweight HIIT workout, live music, inspiring guest speakers, food and drink vans and of course, the chance to experience an icy cold bath. For those who choose to take part in the ice bath, there will be a breathwork session before the plunge and a raffle ticket included as part of their participation. Spectators can also purchase raffle tickets, with prizes generously donated by local businesses.
You can get involved as little or as much as you like, but Jessy is hoping the community can get behind the cause. “To make this fundraiser as impactful as possible, we’re seeking the community's support in a number of ways,” Jessy said. “Firstly, please come along on the day. Spectators can join us for free to enjoy the live music, yoga, workouts, guest speakers and food trucks. Secondly, sign up for the ice bath experience because your participation helps raise the funds we’ll donate to Beyond Blue.
“We’d also love to see more sponsors come on board. We offer various sponsorship tiers for local businesses and community groups. Sponsorships help promote your business while supporting our mental health cause. Please also consider contributing to the raffle. We’re looking for donations of goods, samples or vouchers from local businesses to include in our raffle.”
If you can spare some time, Jessy would also love to have some more bodies in the mix to help out.
“I would absolutely love to have some volunteers on board,” she said. “I’m currently organising this event solo and would deeply appreciate help with setup, pack-down and crowd support if anyone can assist me with this, please reach out.” So for anyone considering the ice bath, but still sitting on the fence, here’s a good reason to jump in: cold exposure helps to activate the body's natural stress response, which can lead to improved stress resilience. When you immerse yourself in cold water, your body has to adapt to the stressor, which can help build mental toughness and better manage future stress.
The fundraiser event will be held on Saturday March 1, from 12.30pm at the Beachmere Junior Rugby League Club, 57 Rogers Street, Beachmere.
For more information, visit
https://www.facebook.com/events/975665807740670. You can also purchase tickets via https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/international-ice-bath-day-tickets-1129184143169
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