Last year it was white Crocs. Now Langford’s Ivan Marcelo is adding a smart grey suit to his unusual running attire in a bid to raise even more money for leading crisis support service Lifeline WA.

Mr Marcelo’s unconventional sportswear choices are helping the 33-year-old boost his fundraising efforts as he prepares to run 12km for Lifeline WA in the HBF Run for a Reason on 19 May 2024.

“I’ve got a number of friends who have reached out to Lifeline WA during a difficult period of their life,” said Mr Marcelo, a Main Roads WA Contract Management Officer and personal trainer.

“Running 12kms in Crocs, let alone a suit, isn’t the easiest, but if it raises funds to prevent suicide then it’s worth it.”

In 2023, Lifeline WA crisis supporters handled an unprecedented 116,444 conversations – a staggering increase of 39% on 2022. The leading suicide prevention agency predicts that 150,000 people will reach out to Lifeline WA for help by 2025.

Mr Marcelo has become familiar to many West Australians this year as the face of the annual HBF Run for a Reason.

He was captured jumping for joy wearing his iconic Crocs after running in the event last year for the first time. The photograph has since appeared on everything from buses to billboards in the run-up to the 12th HBF Run for a Reason.

HBF Run for a Reason is Perth’s biggest annual fitness fundraising challenge. Each year, thousands of participants choose a charity and fundraising goal to run, walk or wheel towards.

Lifeline WA is one of the event’s four featured charities.

Mr Marcelo is stepping up his fundraising for Lifeline WA this year by offering ‘suit space’ to major sponsors.  In return for a donation, they can write messages of support on his jacket and trousers.

“Doing the run in a suit this year adds something extra to the fundraising, while also engaging people on the run, giving them encouragement and having a bit of a laugh along the way,” he said.

“If I can be a reason someone smiles in a day then I’ve lived my purpose for that day.”

Mr Marcelo is no stranger to the idea of doing a good to deed to support others.

He is the founder of the Good Deed Movement, a registered local charity that promotes health, fitness, social connection and greater mental fitness through free fitness classes.

To donate visit https://runforareason24.grassrootz.com/lifeline-wa/ives-marcelo  

ENDS

Lifeline’s 24/7 telephone crisis support service is available on 13 11 14 text 0477 13 11 14 online chat lifeline.org.au/crisis-chat

Media contact:

Caitlyn Maher, The PR Collaborative, caitlyn@theprcollaborative.com.au 0426 221 310.

NB: Lifeline’s 24-hour telephone crisis line 13 11 14 is pronounced ‘thirteen eleven fourteen’. For 24/7 crisis support or suicide prevention services, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 text, 0477 13 11 14, chat online
lifeline.org.au/crisis-chat or visit wa.lifeline.org.au