In an exceptional demonstration of courage and advocacy, Akinrodoye Samuel, widely known as Coach Dreh, swam the breadth of the Lagos Lagoon under the Third Mainland Bridge, covering a distance of 11.8 kilometers. This remarkable feat, completed in two hours and 33 minutes, was not just a test of physical endurance but also a strong statement in promoting mental health awareness.
Starting from Oworonshoki on the mainland to Adeniji Adele on the island, Coach Dreh, the founder of Ocean 28 Swimming Academy, undertook this journey to shine a light on the critical issues of mental health, suicide, and depression. Surrounded by friends and supporters who cheered him on, Coach Dreh leveraged his decade-long experience in swimming to tackle this challenge and use it as a platform to engage the public on often overlooked mental health concerns.
In a statement prior to the swim, Coach Dreh shared, “I am going to be swimming the entire length of the Lagos Third Mainland Bridge to raise awareness and sensitize the public on mental health, suicide, and depression…My years of experience in the aquatic realm is over a decade. And swimming for me, I can do anything and become anything I want to do with it.”
He also had a message for those struggling with mental health issues, urging them to seek help and reminding them of the potential for positive change in their lives. “Mental health is a course that I am passionate about. Life can be very tough and I think it is okay to ask for help. Your life can stay positively within a twinkle of an eye. Stay alive to witness it,” he emphasized.
The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) supported Coach Dreh’s mental health awareness swim, highlighting the broader community’s recognition of the importance of mental health and the need for public discourse on the topic.
