A 2400 km journey of hope down Australia's longest river.
In 2016, American firefighters Eric Helmick and his two sons, Hunter and Tuck - took on the challenge of swimming Australia's longest river, the River Murray, a total distance of over 2400 km to inspire the youth of Australia. Their journey began in the Snowy Mountains and ended 120 days later in South Australia and the Southern Ocean. They called themselves Team Help. Their journey was not just a personal challenge. Though the team had experience as certified swift water rescue swimmers, both Eric and Hunter were not endurance swimmers prior to the swim. They simply wanted to do something that would capture people's attention and in so doing, were able to find opportunities to meet with youth along their journey. The goal was simple. Do something epic to inspire people. Inspiration brings hope. Hope brings transformation. As the team met with youth and schools along their journey, they were able to share their hearts and encourage others to believe in themselves. No one will make your dream come true. Life is not a fairy tale. If you want it, you have to take it.—E W Helmick
Take Your Dream is the story of a father and his two sons who risked everything they had to inspire the youth of Australia by swimming 2400 km down the nation's longest river - the River Murray - in an effort to bring awareness to depression and suicide.
The story is told through the eyes of the youngest son, Tuck, 17, who's plans to be a wealthy-professional contract killer are thwarted when his father insists he join the endurance swim as river captain. Discouraged with the sudden change in his life plans Tuck finds himself in an old 50's diner. There an adorable-nosy waitress pries into his life as he unravels the story down under.
The eldest son, Hunter and his father, Eric, clearly are not endurance swimmers and have little experience with an event of this magnitude. But their fire fighter and swift water rescue experience give them an edge of crazy as they challenge one another's courage and step out into the impossible.
The team, comprised of only 6 full time members. Unable to gain any significant sponsors or media attention for the event, each team member gave all they had financially, mentally and physically to attempt a world record. They called themselves Team Help!
In a daring and dramatic adventure, Team Help journeyed over 120 days through freezing waters, the world's most dangerous venomous snakes, snags, flood waters and scorching heat to become the first Americans to ever swim the full length of the river.
Over 300 hours of breathtaking, cinematic footage was logged during their journey. Simultaneously, the team met with hundreds of school aged youth along their travels inspiring and spreading hope of dreams and a future.
Not endurance swimmers or professional athletes, Team Help overcame logistics, lack of funds, and sponsors who backed out of the project due to the "high risk" involved in attempting something of this magnitude.
"We just swam, every day, telling people our story. That's it. That's our dream. To inspire others to think the same. To step out and change the world." Hunter James.
The film includes jaw dropping encounters with snakes and snags, epic Australian landscapes, laugh out loud insights into the lives of team members and an all out Rock and Roll music score that keeps viewers in pace with the endurance swim that changed a nation.
"No one will make your dreams come true. Life is not a fairy tale. If you want it, you have to take it." E W Helmick
