Michigan to host swimming occasion honoring Wolverine who died by suicide

The University of Michigan will host a swimming occasion to honor a former Wolverine swimmer who died by suicide.

The fourth annual Team Be Better; Invitational will happen on Sept. 26 at 3 p.m. inside Canham Natatorium on the Michigan campus. The meet will honor Ian Miskelley and promote psychological well being consciousness in school athletics.

Miskelley died by suicide in September 2020. He was 19. The Holland native was a junior at Michigan.

At the time, his dad and mom have been decided to assist different households keep away from the identical tragedy. Be Better; was the consequence, a basis that goals to bridge sure gaps within the healthcare system to make psychological well being companies extra accessible.

“Families encounter significantly different levels of support when assisting their children with physical illnesses or injuries compared to mental illnesses,” mentioned Steve Miskelley, Team Be Better; co-founder and Ian’s father.

“While families of student-athletes are involved in nearly every aspect of their child’s sports careers, they often feel powerless and are excluded when it comes to their mental health. This was a challenge we faced after Ian entered his teenage years. He had the best care and incredible resources at school, but it isn’t fair to put critical communication and next steps on a young person who is already carrying so much to get through the day.”

The Michigan swimming and diving program has partnered with the group from the beginning. This is the invitational’s second yr at Canham. Swimmers from Michigan, Purdue, Hope College and Calvin University will compete.

It received’t be the one charitable swim occasion at Canham that weekend. Swim Across America will host its inaugural Michigan Pool Swim on Sept. 28. Proceeds from that may help the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center.