"Cause I Can" Judith Cantor's fundraising projects

We came. We kayaked. We Conquered.

Yesterday marked the inaugural 17.5km Kayak4Kids challenge in support of Lifestart - well, for The Paddle Steamers, that is!

After much logistical juggling, we got all four trios to their starting points in time to take part in the relay. And let me just say, if you haven't ever been to Sirius Cove, Clifton Gardens, Balmoral or Clontarf - make your way there and fast! They are some of the most beautiful harbour beaches Sydney has to offer.

I am proud to announce that we came 59th out of 195 entrants in a time of 2h36m! Not bad for a team that had never paddled together.

After the race we all congregated at Clontarf to share stories, have a light lunch (thanks Lions Club of Manly), take some photos, and start planning next year's event. Yes, we had so much fun that we want to carry on paddling throughout the year and enter Kayak4Kids again in 2011!

But first things first. If you didn't manage to donate to our fundraising page before the race... it's still active! Please make a difference - no matter how big or small. There were quite a few families at Kayak4Kids whose children have Down Syndrome and it made the charity aspect of the day much more real. Visit www.everydayhero.com.au/The_Paddle_Steamers today and help us help Lifestart help children with developmental delay live a happy and productive life.

And to those who have already supported us, the team is extremely grateful and humbled by your generosity.

Thank you.

Thanks to everyone who has already donated to www.everydayhero.com.au/The_Paddle_Steamers in our bid to raise $5000 for Lifestart. Your support is greatly appreciated! With your money Lifestart will be able to detect and provide the relevant support to kids who have Down Syndrome, Autism and other symptoms of developmental delay.

Remember that all donations of more than $2 are tax deductible - and they all add up, no matter how small!

Thank you.

Heave ho!

I feel another challenge coming on...

On 28 March, I will be participating in Kayak 4 Kids in support of Lifestart, a co-operative focused on early childhood intervention program for children with developmental delay. Actually, it won't only be me taking part - I've assembled a team of 11 other kayakers called The Paddle Steamers.

We have been training at various venues on Sydney Harbour for the past five weeks (well four if you discount the week of the tsunami scare) - Rose Bay, Woolloomooloo (round Fort Denison to the Opera House), Mosman and Manly. 

We've had a wonderful time bonding over kayaking, the beauty of Sydney, being outdoors, giving back to the community - and you should see our progress!

Together we're hoping to raise $5,000 for Lifestart. Please help us.

Lifestart is a really important program - it provides early intervention for children with Down Syndrome, Autism, delays in development, or at risk of delay. Based in Sydney, it is a parent co-operative providing a family-centred approach to the needs of children with disabilities and their families. Lifestart is based on the concept of partnerships between parents and professionals.

Visit www.everydayhero.com.au/the_paddle_steamers today and make your contribution. You can dedicate it to the whole team - Anna, Brigit, Catriona, David C, David H, me, Maya, Michelle Miki, Nigel, Ron and Sheryl - or just me. Either way it will be greatly appreciated - by me, the team and Lifestart!

And if you want to help out on the morning, please let me know. We'd love to see some friendly and familiar faces on the shore before, during or after the event!

Thanks!

Making the most of our "muchness"

Last Thursday night, a number of people fell down the rabbit hole into the 3D, fantastical world of Alice in Wonderland a la Tim Burton in support of mental health charity, SANE Australia. And we did so in style - or not, as the case may be!

We had an Alice. We had two Mad Hatters. We had two White Rabbits. We had a March Hare. We had a King of Hearts. We had a Queen of Hearts and a Red Queen. We had a Cheshire Cat. It was quite the motley crew, really.

We were also lucky enough to have the support of quite a few companies who helped us in a number of ways.

Local costume hire store Fancy Shmancy showed SANE Australia significant financial support, and provided us with volunteers to help sell raffle tickets on the night. They also provided us with unbelievable eye candy with their magnificent costumes (which took out Second and Third places for 'Best Dressed'). www.fancyshmancy.com.au

Not only did face painting artists Face Focus come along to paint the faces of some of the guests on the night, they also kindly donated a unique raffle prize - a children's party photo shoot (RRP $150)! www.facefocus.com.au

Vodafone Foundation, corporate supporters of SANE Australia, donated an LG Chocolate phone for raffle (RRP $499), and also helped to select the 'Best Dressed' prizes.

Edifier donated a Luna 5 encore iF500 for raffle. It's an elegant all-in-one audio system offering uncompromised audio quality. As an iPod, iPhone or MP3 docking station, or when operated in FM radio mode, the simplicity of use, design and audio quality of the Luna 5 encore iF500 makes for an outstanding visual and audio experience. RRP $499. www.edifier-international.com

Funky hair studio Stevie English Hair donated not one but two hair make-overs (RRP $130) for raffle including an O&M treatment, cut, style and and blowdry. www.stevieenglish.com.au

Australian Brandenburg Orchestra donated a raffle prize of two A-Reserve tickets (RRP $220) to either their upcoming 'Baroque Tapas' concert on 17 March or their second Concert Series in May, Palazzo Baroque, featuring world-renowned violinist Federico Guglielmo. www.brandenburg.com.au

Organic chocolatiers Coccolo Chocolates donated 1.4kg of chocaholic bliss - guilt free!(RRP $80). www.cocolo.com.au

The Victoria Room supplied us with the 'Best Dressed' prize of High Tea for two at their Mad Hatter's Tea Party on Easter Sunday (RRP $76). To secure your own seat to this chocolate extravaganza, call (02) 9357 4488.
www.thevictoriaroom.com

Shashen donated a pair of beautiful pear-shaped drop earrings in semi-precious stones (choice of Carnelian, Clear or Onyx) and sterling silver wire
(RRP $145). www.shashenjewels.com

And last, but by no means least, CP Communications wrote and distributed a media release that secured SANE Australia print media coverage valued at $90,095 in the Sydney Morning Herald (Planner), Sun-Herald, Sunday Telegraph and the Wentworth Courier. The event was also promoted on www.timeoutsydney.com.au, www.filmink.com.au, www.mediasearch.com.au, www.myweekend.net.au and www.dailyaddict.com.au. Exposure like this for a small, independent charity like SANE is absolutely priceless! www.cpcommunications.com.au

A BIG thank you to all of them as well as Virtual Advertising for the online invitation and on-site banner, and Disney for providing the runner-up prizes for 'Best Dressed'.

The fundraising page is still active so feel free to add your valuable contribution to it -SANE needs all the money it can get to keep its Helpline open. www.everydayhero.com.au/judith_cantor_0.

And for the long-awaited photos by our talented photographer Katrucia, click here!