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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, November 16, 2012 · 22 Zamuner to go the distance in Swim for Mental Health By John Bkila OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF For Oakville's Frank Zamuner, swimming is not just a hobby -- it helped save his life. The 76-year-old said the physical activity helped him in his bout with depression after he had a triple heart bypass in 2005. Always an active person, Zamuner began losing sleep after his surgery and feeling sorry for himself, to the point where he couldn't get out of bed -- that's when a psychologist suggested he get back into swimming. "For myself, it's sort of been a ritual. Swimming was a major part for me in getting better. I feel very strong about swimming. It's a natural way to exhaust stress," he said. That's how he founded the annual Swim for Mental Health fundraising event -- now entering its fourth year -- as a way to not only promote physical activity when dealing with mental-health issues, but to help erase the stigma surrounding it. "When I swim for an hour and 20 minutes, I do 100 lengths continuous without stopping. When you do that, you're forced to put your head in the water and lifting it out, forcing yourself to breathe continuously -- one of the therapies, in particular for mental illness, is breathing," said Zamuner, who makes it a point to swim three to four times every week. "Having been depressed, I discovered mental health issues don't discriminate, they can affect anybody," he said. "Because I've been there, I thought I should do something to try to inspire others to do something to help others." The fourth annual Swim for Mental Health takes place on Thursday, Nov. 22 and Friday, Nov. 23 at Appleby College, 540 Lakeshore Rd. W., from noon-3 p.m. on both days. To date, Zamuner said the annual swim "Having been depressed, I discovered mental health issues don't discriminate, they can affect anybody. Because I've been there, I thought I should do something to try to inspire others." Frank Zamnuner, founder Swim for Mental Health events have raised more than $100,000 for the Oakville Hospital Foundation and mental-health programs. This year's goal is to raise $40,000 -- a goal that is already approaching its halfway mark, Zamuner noted. Proceeds from this year's event will go towards the Halton Healthcare Services' Navigator Program for children and youth who need immediate medical care. Navigators offer hands-on support to children and families, connect them to appropriate services, and provide in-school support to children and their teachers. In the first 18 months of the program, two HHS navigators helped 78 children get the support and services they needed. While registration for Swim for Mental Health is $10, Zamuner says he encourages all those participating to raise additional funds for the cause, partly because for every $1 raised at this year's event, two community foundations -- Amarna and the Mental Wellness Network -- will donate an additional $2.50. The Navigator Program currently receives zero government funding -- the program's goal is to raise $1.25 million by December 2013 from the Oakville community to keep it going. For more information on Swim for Mental Health or to register, visit www. swimformentalhealth.com. ­ with Oakville Beaver files. NOVEMBER 29th 2012, 5-9PM Knowledge. Applied. A great education isn't just about gaining knowledge. It's about being able to apply it in the real world in creative and innovative ways. At Sheridan, you'll learn to solve problems, generate ideas, and stand out in a competitive job market. Sheridan offers bachelor's degrees, diplomas, certificates, post-graduate programs and continuing education options. Don't miss the Sheridan Open House November 17, 2012 . Register online now! ! sheridancollege.ca BRAMPTON | MISSISSAUGA | OAKVILLE 3 3 3 0 S o u th S e rv ic e R o a d , B u rlin g to n , O N , L 7 N 3 M 6 905.333.IVY1 (4891) reservations@ivybar.ca | www.ivybar.ca An Independently owned DGC ENTERTAINMENT Property