Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti
39 minutes ago
EIT staff and students embraced the cold, plunging into an ice bath at the Hawke’s Bay campus as part of an initiative to raise awareness for mental health.
Held on Tuesday, the challenge saw Head of the School of Trades Todd Rogers, Dean Helen Ryan-Stewart, Mental Health Lecturer Chris Malcolm, and Ira White from Human Resources take turns submerging themselves in freezing water alongside three student volunteers.
The initiative was part of a global resurgence of cold-water challenges, revived in the United States nearly a decade after the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, using the hashtag #SpeakYourMIND to raise mental health awareness.
Dean Helen Ryan-Stewart, Ira White from Human Resources, Mental Health Lecturer Chris Malcolm and Head of the School of Trades Todd Rogers took turns submerging themselves in freezing water to raise funds and awareness for mental health.
A crowd of supporters gathered with cheers, laughter, and plenty of encouragement as each “dipper” stepped up to the tub. The event combined light-hearted fun with a serious message, promoting open conversations around mental health and showing solidarity with those facing mental health challenges. Funds raised went to the Jolly Good Chaps Charitable Trust.
Ira showed particular resilience, taking a full bucket of ice-cold water over the head with a smile.
All four staff members embraced the challenge with good humour and were met with enthusiastic applause.
“Hopping into a bucket of ice is never easy,” Todd said.
Chris said mental health was an important focus. “One of the key things was resilience, so we wanted to test the resilience of some of these people hopping in the ice.”
Leanne Harkness, who helped coordinate the event, said the turnout and energy on the day reflected strong support for student mental health. “It’s been quite a warm day, so it was lucky for our dippers.”
Watch the video of the challenge here.
