When worlds collideEvery now and again a magical thing happens - my personal and professional interests align and I can literally live what I market. Don't get me wrong, I'm always engaged with Cantor Direct's clients' products and services, but this is somehow... different. I'm so excited because it's happened again. Now I normally wouldn't bring up business and work in this blog but... this client is about so much more than business and work. SheSuccess is about social change and gender equality and community. So, you see how it fits in with my beliefs and practices? This new initiative will launch with a star-studded conference at the Sydney Opera House on 1-2 April, 2011 - a platform to discuss issues affecting women on a global scale, and make a commitment to change these issues as a collective. While the program may seem heavily celebrity and media-focused, the initiatives are very much grassroots. In addition to ongoing projects that will arise from the conference, SheSuccess will be donating 2,100 water pumps to communities in third world countries through WaterAid Australia (that's one for every conference delegate) giving around 126,000 people clean water to drink. It will also be building a school for 200 children in Africa. If you're interested in finding out more, or attending the SheSuccess conference, visit www.shesuccessconference.com. There's an 'earlybird' discount available on most tickets until this Sunday evening, and, if you're serious about attending and joining me in becoming part of this new movement for change, I can arrange a further 10% discount (on all tickets) for you. When you book, just use the promo code 'CANTOR'. But please, please don't feel obliged at all; if this isn't on the cards, I hope just hearing about how others are making a difference is inspiring to you.
ContrastsOn Sunday I ran/walked the 10km Run4Fun track at Sydney Olympic Park. It was a beautiful morning (read "a welcome break from the incessant rain we've been having the past few weeks") - although mighty hot to be outdoors exercising in! My tomato-red face at the end could attest to that. Okay, it might have had something to do with my fitness level too. The main thing that struck me during the fun run was just how farcical and/or poignant it was that I chose to fundraise for Centennial Park Foundation! If you haven't been to Sydney Olympic Park, it's a bit of a concrete jungle and, no matter how many trees or shrubs are planted on median strips, it still feels like a ghost town. And it's alienating. A complete juxtaposition to Centennial Park really! And this is why I urge you to support my challenge this month. We cannot afford to lose our precious oases in this city. Or any city for that matter.Please give generously to ensure that future generations are able to enjoy the natural environment and learn from it. Visit www.everydayhero.com.au/Judith_Cantor_8786 to make your donation. Thanks so much.And don't forget to check out my photos from race day here.
Wide open spaces to thinkNow that October's Walk4Water challenge is officially finished ( although I've continued walking just because), I can reflect on just how much headspace it gave me. Time to sort out my stuff. Time to recognise the beauty around me and count my lucky stars. Another special place I like to go to just 'be' is Centennial Park - an oasis near the middle of a bustling city, shopping strip and trendy cafe zone. It's places like these that are so important to maintain balance - of the physical, mental and spiritual. Of built up space versus green space. Of 'musts' and 'shoulds' versus 'don't have tos'. How many of us Sydney siders have enjoyed leisurely picnics on the grass under the trees or along the banks of the water? How many have visited the Park as a school kid to learn about environmental issues? Centennial Park needs to be maintained and preserved so future generations can enjoy it too. At the moment, 60% of it's 15,000 trees need replacing. And many animals need sponsoring. Can you help to ensure this ecological haven? I'll be taking part in Run4Fun (10km track) this Sunday to raise awareness and money for this worthwhile cause. Please support me in doing this? You can donate via www.everydayhero.com.au/Judith_Cantor_8786. Thanks very much, and hope to see you at one of those Centennial Park picnics soon!P.S. I'll be leaving the donation page open for a while since the fun run is so early in the month.
Deep for a Friday morning...Over the past couple of days I’ve come closer to understanding what it must be like to have to do something you don’t want to do, every day – like walking 10,000 steps to collect clean water. You see, I haven’t been feeling that well and the thought of getting out of bed at 5.30am to hit the pavement was like pulling teeth. Still, I did it, and am all the richer for it. It was raining yesterday morning and so I could walk my 6.5km at home, slowly and quietly and away from the gaze of others. This morning was a little different. I knew it may be a struggle for me to put one foot in front of the other so I resorted to diversional tactics – having the sound of my favourite Baroque ensemble, the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, in my ears. Somehow I knew that the purity and sexiness of their Tapas album would wake up my body, mind and spirit. And it did. As I walked I thought about the energy, time and potential that is wasted 24/7 in third world countries where people have to spend so much time collecting clean water. Vital, yes, but so inefficient. Then my mind wandered to my day ahead and how I was going to fit in a trip to see my local GP and that got me thinking about the lack of healthcare in other parts of the world, and just how lucky we are in Australia. And then, as I passed the local Baker’s Delight and took in the wonderful aroma of freshly baked bread, I noticed how my tummy was growling (not unlike something out of the Rocky Horror Picture Show). Don’t get me started on the issue of hunger in poor communities! So, what was ostensibly going to be a routine and almost mundane walk turned out to be anything but that as an internal dialogue spanning three areas of inequality for millions of people: water, food and healthcare, ensued. Not to mention almost being bowled over by a cockatoo swooshing down to land on a park bench (and I literally felt its feather pass my cheek), the family of ducks hitting the water at Rose Bay (mum, dad and three ducklings) and the glistening water in the early morning sun. Today is my third last day of ‘walking for water’. If you would like to help WaterAid Australia alleviate some of the issues I pondered this morning, please visit www.wateraidcommunity.org.au/judithcantor and make a donation. I’m sure it would be much appreciated.
Today I clocked 120,000 steps......only 190,000 to go. Well, for me anyway as that's when WaterAid's Walk4Water campaign comes to a close for 2010. It most definitely is not the end of it for millions of people in third world countries who continue to have to walk these distances month in month out to collect clean water for their families.Unless we help them.By sponsoring the remaining 110,000 steps I have already taken, and the 190,000 I have to take this month, you will be supporting the health and growth of entire communities.Surely clean water is a basic human right?
In the month of October alone 155,000 children will die from waterborne diseases such as gastroenteritis.This is preventable. Please visit www.wateraidcommunity.org.au/judithcantor and literally save lives.Thank you! Most sincerely.Check out my daily photos. I have only been thwarted once by the weather - on Sunday 3 October - where I felt it was raining to hard to take my camera with me. The other missing shot was on the very first day; I decided to see how many steps I took naturally on a sedentary, "desk" day and fill in the rest after hours. Problem was that it was way too dark by the time I had the opportunity so I paced up and down my apartment for a couple of hours while watching 'Mad Men' instead. Must've been quite a sight to any fly on the wall!
Water bearer.Well, that's what I'd like to be. Someone who is able to bring water, clean water, to millions who don't have it. Currently, 1 in 8 of the world's population doesn't have access to safe water or has to walk 10,000 steps to get it. So, this month I'll be walking 10,000 steps every day in aid of WaterAid's Walk4Water campaign. That's 310,000 steps all up!I've set my fundraising target at $3,100 which works out to be 1c per step I intend to take. Would you be able to sponsor me and help whole communities live healthier and more productive lives? If you are, visit www.wateraidcommunity.org.au/judithcantor and make your donation today. However many "steps" you can manage would be greatly appreciated.Surely, everyone deserves clean water, don't they? Or time to do other, better, things with their time! Thanks so much for your support.
Elusive timeI have been reminiscing about the Sydney Bridge Run I did last Sunday in support of Plan's 'Because I am a Girl' campaign. How has a week managed to pass me by? How is it that time seems timeless?Yes, I've been busy do all manner of things interesting, important, challenging, mundane, poignant, but where has it gone? And can you imagine what it's like to be a young girl in a third world country wasting your daylight hours walking to collect water for your family? Or cooking and cleaning for your family to the detriment of your own welfare and growth? That's what 'Because I am a Girl' aims to eradicate. Check it out for the latest report on the state of girls that was launched in Sydney last Wednesday. The day of the Sydney Running Festival was, in itself, perfect. The weather conditions were kind to the participants, and the spirit was harmonious and heart-warming. Still there weren't enough people supporting charities and wearing the appropriate slogan-ed garb, but I'll let that pass, for now. Taking part reminded me of just how lucky I am. As I walked towards, and then under, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, I marvelled at my sense of freedom. Freedom to take part without constraint. Freedom to choose how to spend my time. Freedom to be.I did manage to scare a few of my fellow entrants however. I'm often over-taken by an enormous dose of gratitude when participating in community events and charity challenges. This time I left my sunglasses at home so when my spontaneous-yet-almost-anticipated tears fell, they were in full view. No shield for my vulnerability. Thank you to the kind people who stopped to ask if I was okay. I was more than okay. I was exultant! Thank you too to everyone who supported my September challenge in a bid to end global poverty. Your friendship, generosity, goodwill and community spirit astound me and continue to buoy me up. If you would still like to make a difference, please visit www.gofundraise.com.au/judithcantor and donate to this incredibly important cause. For a few dollars, you could change the prosperity of an entire community. Can you picture it, clean water, enough food, equal opportunity to learn? And whether you are in a position to spare some change or not, remember, grab on to your opportunities and make the most of them. Every day.Thank you.
Global poverty: a strong themeI'm elated that it seems more people are thinking about the plight of others - and doing something about it. It's both humbling and how it should be. This Saturday I'm taking part in the launch of my friend Matt Jones' 10 City Bridge Run which aims to 'build bridges' between those of us who have the resources to make change, and those who do not. From 24 September, he will be running 10 sub-marathons of 24km each in 10 cities across 10 countries within a month. Talk about extreme! For him, each run is representative of the 24,000 children under the age of 5 who, on average, die daily (based on 2008 mortality rate of 8.8 million children). In keeping with the '24' theme, the launch will involve 100 people walking or running 2.4km across Sydney Harbour Bridge. Why don't you join us? Check out his sites for more information: www.10citybridgerun.com and http://10citybridgerun-efbevent.eventbrite.com/And now for my next challenge - bizarrely along similar line - but not quite as extreme (for which my physio is most thankful)! I'm taking part in the Blackmores Sydney Running Festival on Sunday 19 September in support of Plan's GirlsFund and the ' Because I Am A Girl' campaign. This campaign was launched to show the world how investing in the education of girls is key to ending global poverty. By supporting me on 19 September, you will be helping to transform the lives of many girls living in the third world. In turn, they will be able to help their families and communities. According to the 'Because I Am A Girl' website: "The World Bank has warned that an extra 700,000 African babies are likely to die before their first birthday as a result of the [global financial] crisis. Most of them will be girls, who are five times more likely to be affected by increases in the infant death rate than boys. There is also a clear link between the lack of investment in girls and lack of economic growth. The countries with the highest levels of discrimination embedded in their legal, social and educational systems are also some of the least developed in the world."Please visit www.gofundraise.com.au/judithcantor today and make a donation towards identifying and responding to the barriers that girls face. That's why Plan International Australia created GirlsFund.Let's destroy the gender barrier and allow everyone to live to their full and deserved potential!Thank you so much.
Supine surmising.Yesterday was a particularly quiet one for me. While most of you (Sydney siders) were romping around in the sunshine, I was laying low in bed for AMDF's Stay in Bed Day. A very interesting thing happened to me actually. My body and mind played tricks on me and I experienced symptoms similar to when I had CFS. Talk about cellular memory! Because I was lying down for so long, my body was well rested but heavy. My mind on the other hand? Buzzing with energy! Maybe, as a creative thinker, I should do this more often! It was one of the things I used to get most frustrated about - that I could envisage myself doing things but not have the energy to do them. Thankfully, I'm now in a position carry through. Not so for many people with mitochondrial disease however. I am exceedingly grateful to a number of people who donated towards my challenge. With their help, AMDF can commission more research to find treatments and a cure for mito. The page is still active if you'd like to participate as well: www.everydayhero.com.au/judith_cantor_7And as for those cupcakes (see below)? Well, my folks each had one when they came to visit me during the afternoon (cupcakes 'D' and 'Y' for "DAY", I had one at the same time (you got it, cupcake 'A'), and I managed to squeeze one in for morning tea today. Of course, this was only because I couldn't fit all the leftovers into my Tupperware container! Leftovers will be eaten by my fellow choristers at rehearsal tonight in lieu of a gold coin donation. For all the people with mito, and their families, carers and friends, I wish you well.
The big reveal.And now for my next trick... only joking: mito is a really serious disease. Check out my most recent YouTube clip: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl7-UHhPsqA If you'd like to join me in bed for the day, get in touch and I'll let you know if there's still room. If there is, make a $20 donation to www.everydayhero.com.au/judith_cantor_7 and turn up to my place between 8.30-8.45am this Sunday! Rules are: lie-in lasts from 9am-5pm, only one person is allowed to be out of bed at any given time (which should accommodate for bathroom and food breaks), sense of humour mandatory, and wear your pyjamas or tracky daks. Teddybears, pillows and hot water bottles are optional. If there isn't any room, please make a donation anyway. If you'd like to find out more about mito visit www.amdf.org.au. Thanks.
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