Bondi Rescue lifeguard Trent ‘Maxi’ Maxwell will spread the water safety message during a free community fun day at Victoria Point on May 28.
The Sydney-based TV personality and his Live Learn Survive co-founder, Leigh Mason of Birkdale, have also been completing a drowning prevention challenge called ‘42 for 42’ throughout the month.
The pair will complete their final fundraising tasks on Sunday, May 28, with Ms Mason swimming laps of the YMCA pool and Mr Maxwell running a marathon from Brisbane to Redlands.
He will finish at the YMCA on Link Road, Victoria Point where a free family fun day will be held between 10.30am and 3pm.
A full schedule of events is planned, including various activities for children, a CPR demonstration, sausage sizzle, as well as visits from local emergency services and community leaders.
Ms Mason said some funds raised on the day would also go towards donating Maxi the Lifeguard educational books to schools, childcare centres and local libraries.
“We will have a direct impact on our local community. Everything and everybody that is involved in the day is volunteering their time,” she said.
“The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends education to children as one of those main things to combat [preventable drownings].
“It only takes half a dozen people on the day to learn something and it might just save their life.”
Mr Maxwell and Ms Mason are co-founders and directors of Live Learn Survive and have been encouraging people to get involved in the 42 for 42 challenge this month.
Funds raised through the initiative will support and promote drowning prevention through education and awareness.
Anyone can get involved by donating to the charity’s Go Fund Me page or starting a team of their own and completing 42 challenges before the end of May.
That could include 42 pushups or squats, having friends, family and work mates each donate $42 to the cause, or reading 42 pages of a book.
The number 42 has been chosen to represent the approximate number of people that drown every hour of every day around the world.
Mr Maxwell is taking his fundraising challenges to the next level and will have completed two marathons by the end of the month.
A Royal Life Saving report found that less than nine per cent of children are learning a rescue skill – we aim to change that.
“If we have greater awareness of potential dangers and the knowledge to know what to do in an emergency situation, we could save lives.”
To donate, visit gofundme.com and search for Live Learn Survive.
