"Cause I Can" Judith Cantor's fundraising projects

It was fabulous, dahling!

I spent last Saturday morning surrounded by a rather motley crew - transvestites, drag kings, members of the GLBT community and queer-friendly folk - for the Little Black Dress Run in aid of Camp Goodtime for children living with HIV Aids.

We didn't as much run the 4km track around Centennial Park as sashay in a taking-in-the-scenery and basking-in-the-spectacle kind of way. 

We had a number of stops for photo opportunities including taking over the Moonlight Cinema grounds (which felt a little like an alternate scene from "O brother, where art thou" [see below]).

Hostess Joyce Maynge kept the crowd in stitches with her warm-up exercises and herding skills, and embodied the spirit of all things Mardi Gras. 

A very large cheque for $17,000 was presented to the representative from Sydney Children's Hospital - Paediatric HIV Service which will be extremely useful in putting together the next Camp Goodtime which runs in six weeks' time.

Unfortunately the size of the donation fell way short of last year's effort but there's still time to rectify that! Visit www.gofundraise.com.au/Cantorj to support the Camp.

A big 'thanks' to those who have already given so generously.

Curiouser and curiouser...

What has Judith been up to of late? 

Well, on top of preparing for the Little Black Dress Run this Saturday and pulling a team together and training for Kayak 4 Kids in March, I've been arranging a colourful fundraising event in support of national mental health charity SANE.

Thursday 4 March is a date you won't want to forget - or be late for. It's a very important date. It's the Australian Opening Night of Tim Burton's long-awaited feature film Alice in Wonderland and I've secured exclusive use of Gold Class at Event Cinema in Bondi Junction for a 3D screening!

It's a strictly dress-up affair and Dennis and his team from Face Focus have kindly donated their time (and face paints) to come along and transform everyone into Lewis Carroll's fantastical characters.

Fancy Shmancy Boutique Fancy Dress Hire are supporters too so be sure to visit their store for all your costume hire needs (91 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction - 9387 1330).

Tickets are available through www.whiterabbit.eventbrite.com and include a drink on arrival and canapes.

Remember to bring a few extra notes with you on the night though  - there will be a raffle with prizes from Edifier, Stevie English Hair, Cocolo Chocolates and more.

Thanks to CP Communications for their help in promoting the event to the media, and Virtual Advertising for the great invitation.

I look forward to seeing you incognito!

Love is definitely in the air

Valentine's Day is, I feel, a day of gratitude. A day to take stock of the love around us - whether it be past, present or future; based on Eros, Philial, Caritas or Agape - and take it in.

Last Friday I took part in a Facebook initiative called Write Love on Her Arms Day - a day of love and support for people with eating disorders who have depression, self-harm or are suicidal. I was amazed at how the simple act of writing the word 'Love' on my arm gave me a sense of strength, empowerment, humility and compassion. I was honoured to explain its meaning to my friends when they admired my bravery in getting a tattoo.

What are you going to do to show your love?

On Saturday I'll be taking part in the Little Black Dress Run in Centennial Park - a rather silly event with a serious raison d'etre: supporting children living with HIV Aids.

Why not show them some love in appreciation of the love you receive unconditionally? Pay it forward.

If you can, visit www.gofundraise.com.au/Cantorj and make a donation. Your gift of love will enable the Positive Kids team (a program at Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick) to help the children recognise the love in their lives and thrive.

Wishing you a beautiful day filled with love whichever way you choose to spend it.

Blessings.

Call for kayakers

February is shaping up to be charity challenge central! Actually this challenge is at the end of March but a fair deal of preparation is needed for it to be a success. And this is where you come in!

I'd like to put together a team of 12 kayakers for Lifestart's Kayak 4 Kids on 28 March. Why 12 you ask? Because it's a long way to paddle! 


The course is 17.5km in total which is, even for me, way too far. If we have 12 team members, we can have three to a kayak per leg of the challenge. Much better idea!

That plus it makes it far more social and fun.

In preparation for the big day, I've arranged kayak hire for the preceding six weeks starting Sunday 14 February. All sessions are at 4pm and, as with any social gathering, there's room to party on somewhere else afterwards.

And just so those of you who may be groaning at the fact the first session is on Valentine's Day, I've come up with something that both singles and couples may enjoy to do afterwards - see NEW YORK, I LOVE YOU under the stars at Moonlight Cinema.*

Please get in touch if you want details on training, the race, the social program, the cost or the charity, or if you would like to put your participation pants on straight away. 

And feel free to forward this on - the more the merrier! That, plus we'll need reserves.

Oh, and we'll need a team name. Most creative suggestion wins... the admiration of the rest of the team. Okay, I'll shout you a drink ;)

Thanks,
Judith
0402 257 655
judith@cantordirect.com.au
@judithcantor


*To see the review and make your booking visit www.moonlight.com.au 

LBD invasion at Centennial Park

Last month I spent a day in silence in support of the White Ribbon Foundation and the work they do promoting anti-violence against women. This month I will be taking part in something a little more frivolous yet no less important. 

On 20 February I will don my own LBD and join hundreds of similarly clad men and women as they walk, run or shuffle (for those who choose to wear their heels) the 4km circuit to raise funds for Positive Kids' Camp Goodtime (an initiative of Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick).

Camp Goodtime has been running since 1990 and, according to the Hospital's site, "facilitate[s] communication between and within families living with HIV, reduce[s] the isolation experienced by the families, provide[s] a recreational and therapeutic environment where children and parents can share experiences with others in similar circumstances, and provide[s] a venue where information about the medical, social and other aspects of HIV can be shared and where new ways of coping with the virus can be learned."

If you can (and can't we all to some extent?), please make your donation via www.gofundraise.com.au/... and give both the children living with HIV Aids and their families much-needed support.

And yes, I'll have my camera with me!

Happy Mardi Gras :)