"Cause I Can" Judith Cantor's fundraising projects

What went down in Dee Why

I can't lie to you. Last Saturday wasn't easy. In fact, taking part in the Sun Run was something of a slog. Let me tell you why.

I hadn't been well since Wednesday night (fever, shakes, achy body and sore throat) and deep down I knew I really shouldn't be taking part. The little voice in my head saying the opposite didn't seem to want to go away though. I decided to set my alarm for 5am - the event was due to start at 6.45am in a suburb 45 minutes away on a good day - and make a decision then.

When my alarm went off, I lay in bed contemplating my options and gently moving my limbs to assess the damage. I decided I was going to do it. Dosed up on andrographis and olive leaf extract, I hit the road.

The traffic was shocking and the parking even worse. Thank goodness for Google maps or I wouldn't have found my car afterwards! I made it to the starting line with literally 20 seconds to go - the closest shave I've ever had. 

The lovely thing was that, after days of clouds and rain throughout Sydney, the sun came out. It felt like something of a miracle and I took it to be a sign that I'd made the right decision in doing the run. Well, walk. I was sensible enough not to push my body too far.

It was a gorgeous 6.5km track - with over 4,500 other entrants - along the coastline towards Manly. Spectators were dotted along the way cheering us on. Even Michelle Bridges made an appearance (see photos)!

I was so happy to have taken part. Sadly I landed up at the doctor's surgery on Sunday and am now dosed up with heavier medication, but it was all worth it.

Why?

Because I was doing it for the Australian Conservation Foundation. Without them, and other organisations like them, there's no guarantee we'll be able to walk along such gorgeous landscape in the future. They exist to protect, restore and sustain the environment. They aim to inspire and promote a society which is environmentally aware and responsible. 

This is so important. For us. For the future generations of Australia. Important enough for me to get out of my sick bed!

If you also believe in a green and healthy environment, and enjoy being able to spend time outdoors and admire the beauty, please support the work that they do. Donate today. 

Thanks.

And how we laughed!

On Monday, four warm and generous Sydneysiders joined me in grabbing a very short window of opportunity - 20 or so minutes of respite from the rain - to laugh. And laugh we did.

I decided to hold a Laughter Yoga session on my birthday in support of the Humour Foundations' Clown Doctors. They do an amazing job cheering up some of our youngest and oldest hospital patients when they're at their most vulnerable. Taking the mickey out of something scary and potentially invasive makes it seem all the more do-able.

They already visit over 100,000 patients a year across the country but really want to be able to head to the hospitals seven days a week. Are you able to help them? 

By making a donation, you can help the Clown Doctors visit even more children in hospital more often and bring them the gift of laughter during stressful and scary moments.

Visit www.gofundraise.com.au/pages/JollyJude and bring joy and relief to thousands of sick children. What a great Christmas present - to yourself or someone you care about!

And to Camilla, Joy, Frances and Matt, thanks for braving the storm... literally! Ho ho ha ha ha! Thanks also to the Chinese tourists and young girl who joined in for a bit too.

Wishing you all a safe, peaceful and fun Festive Season filled with laughter and love. 

Thank you so much for your support over the past year and beyond.

Best,
Judith

One more day for One Girl

Last weekend I did it in a dress. Nothing sordid. In fact, something rather silly. 

One Girl, an Australian charity raising money to send girls in Sierra Leone back to school, was running a campaign called Do It In A Dress. They didn't prescribe what the "It" was to be - that was left up to each individual raising money for their cause - but whatever you chose to do, you had to do it wearing a school dress.

I put it to vote. I asked people to add what they'd like to see me do in a school dress on my 'Cause I Can' Facebook page and to vote. My fate was sealed. I had to ride around Centennial Park in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, in my school dress (kindly loaned to me by someone at Queenwood), singing as I pedalled! 

And that's what I did.

On Sunday 23 October, I set off for an hour of spreading the word and, let's face it, embarrassment. It was fun though. And heavy going. Who would've known how much effort it takes to ride a pedal bike solo? I managed two laps - about 8km - in under one hour.

The great thing was people's responses as they pedalled past me on the track. I got quite a few "good onya's" and even had one guy think I actually attended the school! Hmmm, maybe 15-20 years ago... sweet of him nonetheless.

So what was this all really about? 

A belief that by sending just one girl to school for a year in an impoverished third world country makes an enormous difference for her entire community. It's a bid to end global poverty. 

Education = empowerment.

I really, really would like to send at least one girl to school for a year in Sierra Leone, but I'm short of $290. Can you help me reach this goal? Today is the very last day of the campaign so you'll have to be quick. To make a donation, visit my fundraising page and follow the prompts. 

Your generosity can make a world of difference to an entire community. It really can.

To spur you on, have a look at what I looked like as a 30-something year old school girl!


And, thank you.

Some say crazy, I say Inspired!

A couple of weeks ago I joined 84,999 other fitness and community enthusiasts for City2Surf - a 14km track from the Sydney CBD to iconic Bondi Beach. Despite having "won" myself a spot in the Red start (read: right up front) through making a relatively substantial donation to The Inspire Foundation and securing a gold race bib, I took it slow this year. I felt somewhat justified given I have whiplash from a hit-and-run accident that happened only a couple of weeks before the race. That, plus I met and walked alongside another gold bib-ber, Laura, from the Centenary Foundation.

Let me tell you, starting at the front was quite an experience... Those guys are fierce! Thankfully I had braced myself for their focused determination and managed to get to the left-hand side of the track early on or I would have been trampled. Even more important since it was drizzling when the gun went off.

What I wasn't prepared for was the waves of participants throughout the 14km course; for each staged start, a field of runners would stampede past me leaving behind an eerie silence and deserted street until the next wave hit. It did mean I could take my time taking photos.

I'm really glad to have been able to celebrate my second anniversary of monthly charity challenges by raising funds and awareness for The Inspire Foundation. They're a great charity that help young people live happy lives through the values of compassion, generosity, inclusiveness, responsibility and fun. Since suicide is the leading cause of death among 14-25 year olds, having people around who care about youth mental health is vital.

I am still really keen to reach my $1,000 goal but time is running out in a big way - it's September tomorrow! And I still have $535 to go... Please could you help me by making a donation today? All you need to do is visit www.everydayhero.com.au/judith_cantor_35 and follow the prompts.

It'd be really fantastic to know that fewer kids are going through dark times, don't you think?

Saving surfers in the Shire


It was a cold and windy night... no, it was a clear and frosty morning. A mere 7 degrees. But they came in droves. Over 7,000 people. Why? To take part in the 40th Sutherland2Surf fun run and support Aussie lifesavers!

It was well worth the effort (read: leaving home at 6.30am on a Sunday morning in Winter) though. What a great day! 

After reaching the 2km mark and beginning to feel my hands again, I knew things were going to be okay. By 3km I had stripped down... my gloves, that is. By the time I caught my first glimpses of Cronulla Beach, I was warm and toasty and stayed that way all day.

It was such fun to see a part of Sydney I'd never visited before at the same time as taking the time out to focus on helping others. Given I was the recipient of some lifesaver love over 14 years ago at Tamarama in the East, it was the least I could do!

To find out more about my gruelling, near-drowning tale, visit www.everydayhero.com.au/judith_cantor_5. And while you're there, please, please make a donation? It's so important keeping our beaches safe throughout the year - for Australians as well as visitors.

Thanks so much. I know I may not be here today if it weren't for those lifesavers!

Check out the rest of my fun run photos too. Cronulla really is pretty.

Painting the town red

On Sunday 5 June I joined a crowd of crimson clad supporters of MS Society for the annual MS Walk. It was a truly beautiful morning; there was a palpable sense of community spirit and good cheer around me as I headed off from Hyde Park towards the Botanic Gardens in Sydney.

One of the things I noticed was that there seemed to be fewer people in wheelchairs taking part this year. Maybe it's a sign that there are fewer people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) who need them for mobility now! How wonderful would that be? 

I remember when my friend Mel was first diagnosed with MS. She was terrified at the thought of being confined to a wheelchair at such a young age - she was only in her early thirties. With education and support from her family, friends and the MS Society however, she came to understand the manifestations of the disease and how she could manage it and lead a wonderfully fulfilling life. Thank goodness she did or she might have found it difficult to look after her extremely lively, happy baby boy!

So what exactly is MS? 

According to the MS Australia website, MS is thought to be an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS), which is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves.

The immune system, which usually works to protect the body, mistakenly starts to attack the body’s own tissue. The primary target of this attack is thought to be myelin, the protective coating around the nerve cells in the CNS that facilitates nerve conduction. The nerve cells themselves can also be damaged. The attacks on myelin produce ‘scarring’ or ‘plaques’ at multiple sites in the CNS, and it is these scars that give the disease its name. These scars, in turn, begin to slow or interrupt the transmission of nerve impulses, resulting in the symptoms of MS.

With your support, more research can be done. I believe it's only a matter of time before a cure is found. If you do too, and would like to contribute to the breakthrough, please visit http://register.mswalk.org.au/2011-MS-Walk-and-Fun-Run-Sydney/judithcantor and make a donation. 

Thanks very much!

Have a look at my event photos; Sydney really is a beautiful city!

Time waits for no-one...

And no-one fees this more that someone who is critically ill. I know I can't fathom that it's already been three weeks since I took part in National Breast Cancer Foundation's (NBCF) annual Mother's Day Classic in the Sydney CBD. Thankfully, although I get sick, I don't have serious illness to contend with... it just means I'm getting old!

It was a beautiful morning shared with my mum, sister, two nieces and around 120,000 other do-gooders and fitness enthusiasts across Australia. Some ran, some walked, some rolled and some were pushed but we all came together in the name of people who had passed away as a result of breast cancer or who have it or who are in remission. Also, sadly, those who have yet to be diagnosed with the disease.

Really, it's all about finding a cure.

NBCF need your urgent help to fund research and, given it's now the afternoon of 31 May, I need to ask for it today!

If you have been personally affected by breast cancer in any way, please prevent anyone else having to go through the physical, psychological and financial effects by donating generously via https://s.eventarc.com/sponsor/view/24725/judith-cantor this afternoon.

According to their website, since its inception in October 1994, NBCF has allocated more than $67 million to breast cancer research.

I'd like to at least hit my target of $250 but, ideally, I'd like to smash it! 

By giving to this cause, you will be giving others more time with their loved ones and, as we all know, time is elusive and incredibly precious.

Heartfelt thanks for your support.

Check out my video clip before I started the 8km walk and photos during and afterwards with my family.

When one beach just isn't enough...

...walk to the next and the next. That's how Sunday's Hill to Harbour felt... expansive water views and sunny skies. Thanks for turning it on, Newcastle!

I joined over 2,000 people pounding the pavement in support of a number of charities. I chose WIRES (NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service, Inc). It was one of those obvious choices for me. 

You see, while parts of Australia were washed away by floods, burnt down by fires, torn apart by a cyclone and earthquake over the last five or so months, of course I was concerned for all the people involved (some who I know personally), but I also worried about the animals that would've been stranded, orphaned or injured in the upheaval.

Are you like me? Is helping animals important to you?

If you are, and it is, please, please visit www.everydayhero.com.au/judith_cantor_4 and make a donation today. WIRES will put your money to very good use!

Friends of mine from Mission Beach, Far North Queensland (where cyclone Yasi hit) are constantly surprised at how animals and insects are going against their nature and approaching people for help - be it food or water or shelter or company. They must really be feeling it. And we should really step up and help them.

And for a breath of fresh beach air, check out my Hill to Harbour photos.