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Tri for Mike

By Sophie Hicks Lloyd Join Me

Why I'm Swimming 2kms on May the 4th.

Last November I lost my beautiful big brother Mike to suicide. It has been the single most devastating event in my life and it has overwhelmed our family, friends and Mike's friends and colleagues in a profound way.

Mike's life though tragically short, was a big life and Mike loved to compete in triathlons and big races. He loved everything about a big race - the challenge of the training, the preparation, the event, the friendships forged and the sense of achievement when it was done.

His favourite event was the Port Mac Iron Man (and before that the old Forster Iron Man). He had competed in the race many times and this year was signed up to do the 70.3 Half Iron man race.

In honour of Mike and to raise funds and awareness for suicide prevention, I am competing in a team in the 70.3 race on May 4 this year.

Alongside me will be 2 athletes Mike loved and admired. Stu Lowndes on the bike, and Liam Flannery doing the run leg.

We will be raising funds and awareness for Lifeline who do invaluable work in our community to help prevent suicide. 

I am so saddened by the statistics of suicide in Men. Of the 3,000 lives lost to suicide each year about 75% are men. My hope is that in losing Mike we start to learn and spread the message that there are ways of helping people when they are in desperation and despair.

Lifeline has helpful factsheets and videos on their website to give friends and family members of people in crisis, guidance, support and steps to take. Lifeline also helps build Safety Plans for people experiencing suicidality. There is a wealth of information available as well as people to talk to, chat and SMS with.

So please, if you are touched by this and want to help, feel free to donate and just as importantly, please talk to friends and family about Lifeline and the work they do. They are not just here for people in crisis, but also the family and friends of those people. X

Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

Raised

$16,749

My Goal

$20,000

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My Achievements

My Updates

Race Day

Well you can’t make this stuff up. After months of training and roping in 3 amazing people to do the 70.3 Port Macquarie with me, we received the news overnight that the swim component of the race has been cancelled. 

The water quality has been deemed unsafe and so no athletes will swim today :(

The race instead becomes a duathlon. So I’ve somehow managed to get people up here from Sydney, Newcastle and London to do the race with me and then at the last minute I’m out and they do all the work! It doesn’t seem quite fair but I’ll pivot and morph from nervous swimmer to highly enthusiastic supporter and cheer squad.

As it stands we’ve now raised over $13,000 for Lifeline. I can’t tell you how happy, proud and quite frankly, emotional this makes me feel. My brother would be so proud. In fact he’d be properly embarrassed that we’d gone and thrown this much at it. But here we are.

I will spend the day taking it all in with the benefit of no horrible race day nerves and I’ll take as many photos as I can and cheer as many legends on as I can.

Still so much to celebrate and this is still Miles favourite race with some of his faves up there having a go in his honour. 💙💙💙

Thank you to my Sponsors

$1,000

B Frost

$500

Pragya

$500

Bec Regalo

$500

Trudie

$500

Sam And Hannah

Love this Soph xx

$500

Nicole Larkings

Awesome work Soph. Hickys would be super proud of you all ❤️

$500

Candice Peters

$500

Danielle White

xox

$400

Trent Lloyd

I thought it would be great to see you over $6k All my love. X

$300

Andrew Lovett

Such a loss. Such a worthy cause. By the time this drops, you’ll be done.

$250

Pete & Courtney

Cheering you on every KM Stu and Team x

$250

Anonymous

Thanks Sophie.

$250

Matt Dimattina

Sophie, congratulations on your courage and initiative, I’m grateful to have the opportunity to contribute in memory of Mike. He was a wonderful colleague and friend of whom I have only great memories. Thank you, Matt

$250

Oms Specialists

On behalf of Team OMS

$250

Shaun Jones

$250

Sophie Hicks Lloyd

$250

Penny Davy Whyte

I love your work, definitely making a difference ❤️

$250

Catie

Well done Sophie and your team

$250

Alicia Purtell

My gorgeous Soph, You are one brave and inspiring woman. Give it everything you’ve got. Mike will be you xx

$250

Emma Ohana

A beautiful testament to Mike my darling friend. Love you so much Xxxx

$250

Bohdana Clancy

Soph darling you are amazing! What a special way to honour your brother. Thinking of you always lots of love x

$250

Sam

This is brilliant Soph - thank you xx

$250

Fiona Avery

You go girl. Mike will be right beside you 💕💕 Love Fi and Andy

$250

Georgia Stefanko

Inspirational! All the best,

$250

Lauren Paton

$250

Alex & Paul

Your brother would be so proud Soph, beautiful way to honour him. Thinking of you & wishing you all well. Xx

$250

Prateek Dhingra

A fantastic cause and effort, all the best

$200

Susan Cohn

Such a beautiful way to honour your brother Sophie. Much love to you and your family X

$200

Matthew Perrignon

Thanks for the opportunity to donate Sophie.

$200

Nisha Sachdev

Sorry to hear about your bro Soph. I’m sure you’ll smash this and do him proud x

$200

Nicole Bence

$200

Sarah Squires

Hicksy will always hold a special place in our hearts. May the force of Hicksy be with you every stroke, stride and pedal xxx

$100

Ren Fernando

Beaming love

$100

Olivia Kwan

What a special tribute to your big bro Soph, cheering you on from a far! Go Soph!!!!

$100

Virginia Re

Sending lots of love to you Soph - what a special way to honour your brother and make such a difference xx

$100

Nik Wyman

$100

Samantha Cahill

Hey Soph, I just wanted to say I’m so sorry you lost your brother and I’m thinking of you and sending love. Of course I was going to donate. All my love Sam Cahill Go legends!!!!

$100

Kate Howson

Such an important cause - thank you.

$100

P Fg

$100

Sujin Mackellar

$100

Sev Celik

I love your determination, courage and your big heart

$100

Heidi And Rory Perrignon

Little extra to get it over the 15k line. Well done team!!!

$100

Kathryn Hart

Great work ladies , you are both such an inspiration . Your brothers would be so proud x x

$100

Godfrey Family Trust

Well done Sophie for committing to the training. Michael would be impressed.

$100

Georgie Beck

What a beautiful thing to do to honour your brother. Sending love G x

$100

James Cramb

Hey Soph, Just wanted to say how incredible it is that you’re taking on this swim to raise awareness and honor your brother Mike. It’s such a powerful thing you’re doing, and it speaks volumes about your strength and heart. Wishing you all the best for the big day, you’ve already made such an impact. Sending lots of hugs and thoughts to you and your amazing fam. Xx

$100

Jess Honeychurch

This is amazing Soph, sending you all my love for the big race honouring your wonderful big brother xxx

$100

Kailey Antici

What a brilliant way to honour your gorgeous brother xx

$100

John Gemmell

$100

Stu Lowndes

Great cause Sophie. Well done on helping drive fund raising for such an important organisation

$100

Alex & Nikki Slater

$100

Victoria Lewis

So sorry to hear your news - it must have been lovely to have Trudie with you to share in the challenge.

$100

Andrew Hughes

$100

James Carr

May the 4th be with you! I will be thinking of you all.

$100

Carly Lloyd

I’m so very sorry for your loss Sophie xx

$100

The Ballantines

Go get them tiger. Xxx

$100

Georgie Nichols

Love to you and all the family Soph. You are a champion my friend xxxx

$100

Austin Huntsdale

$100

Sallee

What a meaningful and beautiful way to honour your brother’s memory. Wishing you so much love and strength Soph xx

$100

Anonymous

I am so sorry to hear about your brother. My mother-in-law passed from suicide five years ago. There are so many unanswered questions. May you find strength in knowing he is not suffering anymore.

$100

Nina Vanneck

Gut wrenching to read your story, Sophie. I volunteered with Lifeline about 20yrs ago. Probably my proudest moment. It’s such an amazing organisation. Good luck on 4th & I hope the days & months get easier. Nina X

$100

Sarah Mcphillips

So proud of you. xxx

$100

Dana Perrignon And Laura Fitzgerald

Good on you Sophie, Stu, and Liam! I miss Hicksy so much, and I’m sure he would be proud of all of you honouring him, and his love of the “big race” on Sunday. Best of luck.

$100

Sarah Dorward

Good luck team.X

$100

Pippa Harrison

Good luck tomorrow Soph! Mike will be right there with you every step of the way. Sending lots of love—you will smash it! xx

$100

Yan Lai

$100

Anonymous

$100

Brad Reid

Have the best ride Sophie. Smash it!!!

$100

Georgina Mahony

Good luck Sophie.

$100

Erica W

Forever strong and courageous! Thank you for raising awareness for mental health and a great tribute to your dear brother, so proud. You’ve got this! Xx

$100

Alison Clark

Good Luck tomorrow!

$50

Viv

$50

Clare Kinsey

$50

Charlotte

What a beautiful and generous way to turn your grief into strength and hope 💪💗

$50

Anonymous

$50

Jen Berry

Good on you girls. So sad you lost your brother Sophie. You’re a wonderful friend Trudie. Xxoo

$50

Char Seneviratne

$50

Guillaume Tual

Thank you for raising awareness. Your brother, like everyone else, would be proud of you. X

$50

Melanie Seitz

$50

Caroline Clark

Soph, what an awesome way to honour your brother. Sending love my friend. Your honesty and courage will change lives. ❤️

$50

Sinead

Your big brother would be so proud I’m sure, Soph.

$50

Jo Dean

Your bro would be so proud of you doing this Soph. Go well ya bloody champ! Xx

$50

Krista

You’re amazing Soph!! You’ve got this!!! Your big brother would be so proud of you xx

$50

Emma Mahon

Swim like a fish Soph! Emma & Matt x

$50

Kristen Kennedy

A wonderful tribute x Sending love and best wishes x

$50

Rashell Habib

Soph, I am so sorry for your loss and what a wonderful thing you are doing x

$50

Eli Fisher

Cheering for you Soph!

$50

Cino Bendinelli

$50

Linda Byun

$50

Tyler Coates

💙

$50

Wiz

$50

Mandy Kennett

So sorry for your loss Sophie. Best of luck with the tri - I’m sure your brother will be cheering you from above.

$50

Kate Cox

Go Soph! You'll be amazing and a lovely way to honour Mike. Such an important issue and one very close to my heart too. Will be thinking of you on the fourth x

$50

Kathryn Carter

So sorry to hear Soph, what a wonderful way to pay tribute, take care. KC x

$50

Noeml Wood

Thinking of you Soph. Well done for bringing awareness to this very underfunded and poorly understood national crisis . Xxx

$50

Nat Harvey

$50

Sophie Monaco

You’re amazing Soph, give it all you’ve got! Thinking of you and your family xxx

$50

Leisa Grant

I am so sorry to hear of your loss, Soph. All the best for the race, a wonderful tribute and way to raise awareness. Xo

$50

Tania Platt

$50

Loz D

❤️ for Sophie and Trudie

$50

Adrian Vallelonga

Good luck Soph ! So sorry for your loss!

$50

Gareth Tomlin

Sending love, such an amazing gesture for your bro. Hope you all smash it!!

$50

Rachel

I’m so sorry to hear. Trudes used to work for me at Amex. I’ll try and come up to Port Macquarie to support you both.

$50

Stephanie

$50

Carly Loder

Thinking of you, Soph.

$50

Moira Hogan

Wishing you and your family well. Go well in The triathlon. M

$50

Paul Kent

You got this.

$50

Leanne Hewgill

$50

Sal Campling

You’ve got this Soph! S x

$50

Caroline Leggett

AYour big bro is always with you xx thank you for talking about Mike xx we love you so much

$50

Anonymous

Hey Soph, you have always been an amazing lady - this is but another example of your courage, strength and love in action. Sending you positive joo joos for the triathlon. xx

$50

Donna Fergus

What an amazing tribute to your brother hon. Angels will be watching over your swim. 💕

$50

Toby Ross

So sorry to hear about your loss, Soph. Good luck with the tri, what a wonderful tribute. x

$40

Anonymous

$39

Penny Kaleta

Every stroke you take is a tribute to your brother’s life, you are not just swimming through water—you are swimming through memory, through pain, through purpose. And with each breath, you remind the world that love doesn't end when a life does. It endures. It fights. It moves forward. You are not only honoring your brother’s story—you’re giving hope to others who carry silent grief. You've got this. 💙

$30

Matt Gower

You've got this Soph. I will be thinking of you on the 4th May x

$25

Liz Humphries

Well done Trudes and Sophie, amazing effort!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

$25

Rebecca

May your brothers legacy shine. Beck 💙

$25

Sal Beerworth

so sorry Soph

$25

Sonia

Thank you Sophie for raising awareness on mental health.

$25

Esther Carlsen

What an amazing thing to do for your brother. I’m sure from how you describe him he’ll be there pushing you all on xxx

$25

Vanessa Arden-wood

Go Sophie, a beautiful way to honor your brother. Sending you all the energy and training strength you need.

$20

Daniel Hannan

$20

Kim Cutler