In a powerful show of unity and purpose, the Cronulla Sharks will proudly host their second annual Mental Fitness Round on Saturday, May 17, against the Storm at Sharks Stadium.
Designed to encourage open conversations while promoting important tools and resources, this year's Mental Fitness Round is supported by leading mental health organisation Find Ya Feet, which runs life-changing workshops for schools, sporting clubs, corporates and community organisations.
Mental Fitness Round is the brainchild of Sharks halfback Nicho Hynes, who pushed to turn his vision into reality against the Dragons in May 2024.
The week leading up to the Round 11 NRL match against Melbourne will include impactful and informative mental fitness content featuring Hynes, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Tom Hazelton, NRLW star Rhiannon Byers and Find Ya Feet founder Tommy Herschell across the club's website and social media channels. The mental fitness theme will also be integrated into a special game-day experience.
"The inaugural Sharks Mental Fitness Round was a major success, with the community embracing and amplifying our mission to treat mental health like physical wellbeing," Sharks Head of Community & Government Relations Vinh Tran said.
"After such an emphatic response, we're excited to build on what we started by continuing to offer people the tools to develop their emotional strength and ask for help when it's needed, as well as knowing how to check in on others.
"We look forward to working with Tommy Herschell and the Find Ya Feet team to support the delivery of his workshops to schools and organisations across the Cronulla-Sutherland area and beyond. Tommy's passion shines through everything he does, and we can't wait to tap into his expertise.
"A sincere thanks also goes to Gotcha4Life, who began this journey with us last year."
Find Ya Feet counts Hynes, former Sharks captain Dale Finucane and premiership winner Luke Lewis among an array of ambassadors including Australian cricketer Mitch Marsh and NRL legend Sam Thaiday, who won the latest season of 'I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here' and earned a $100,000 donation for the organisation.
Local surfing icon and two-time world record holder Blakey Johnston is also a supporter of Find Ya Feet, with his World's Biggest Paddle Out event at Cronulla Beach in March raising funds to support the delivery of school workshops for more than 10,000 young people across the Sutherland Shire.
Through Find Ya Feet, Herschell champions vulnerability and encourages people to speak up, knowing that a simple conversation can spark lasting change. He recently presented to Cronulla's Junior Representative teams, equipping attendees with the skills to share and own their stories.
"To be a part of the Sharks, one of the great clubs in the NRL, means the world for a brand like Find Ya Feet," said Herschell, who will run a workshop with the NRL squad next week.
"By being involved with the Sharks, we're winners as well. You've got a lot of fans who will see Find Ya Feet involved and say, 'You know what, we're allowed to talk openly, we're allowed to have those things going on in our life'.
"When a young person sees Nicho Hynes, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Tommy Hazelton, Rhiannon Byers – any of these people as footballers – they love them. But when they get to meet the person and see how beautiful the person is – their heart – that's what they actually admire.
"The more of these footballers that we can get to tell their story and be vulnerable and open, the better for all of us. For the next generation, it shows that it's OK to have stuff going on, it's OK to be in a struggle, but we can't sit in it. We have to acquire the tools to get out of it, be productive and be the best person we can be.
"It's priceless. It's an opportunity for our heroes to become even more inspiring."
CLICK HERE for more information on Find Ya Feet.
