Enjoying a few beers or a glass of wine is a common past time for most people, but Ash Cole has decided to lose the booze for the month of October to help Aussie kids.
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Ash is taking part in Ocsober to help raise $500 for Life Education.
Life Education is the organization behind the iconic educational mascot, Healthy Harold.
For 30 years, the loveable giraffe has been teaching Australian children how to enjoy a healthy lifestyle by resisting participation in drug and alcohol abuse.
This year, Ocsober aims to raise '$700,000 to empower 700,000 Aussie kids.
Ocsober is also an important opportunity to highlight the growing danger of binge drinking and alcohol abuse, particularly among young Australians. Participants can also enjoy other potential benefits from a month off alcohol including feeling healthier and fitter, weight loss and the chance to enjoy Sunday mornings again!
"I just wanted to try and challenge myself that I could do it. Plus I wanna do it for the kids as well," Ash said.
Ash has used a "weekend pass" during the grand final weekend but will attempt to stay alcohol free for the rest of the month.
Ash already donates money to breast cancer and cerebal palsy research every month, but says this will be a challenge.
"If I put my mind to I can do it."
If you would like donate money to Ash during Ocsober, please go to https://ocsober2015.everydayhero.com/au/ashleigh-cole
Alcohol facts and statistics:
* Every 24 minutes an Australian dies through either legal or illegal drugs
* Alcohol related harm was responsible for 5,554 deaths in 2010 and same year 157,132 people were hospitalised due to excessive alcohol consumption (Alcohol’s Burden of Disease In Australia, 2014)
* Teenagers who start drinking before age 15 are five times more likely to become dependent on alcohol than those who don’t start until they are 21
* Nearly 50% of 16-17 year old drinkers say they intend to get drunk most times/ every time they drank alcohol
* More than 20% of 14 - 19 year olds consume alcohol on a weekly basis
* Alcohol is involved in 13% of all deaths among 14-17-year-old Australians.
* One Australian teenager dies and more than 60 are hospitalised each week from alcohol-related harms.
* Drinking contributes to the three leading causes of death among adolescents - unintentional injuries, homicide and suicide
