"Cause I Can" Judith Cantor's fundraising projects

Up, up and away...

We did it! On Tuesday Anne McKevitt and I jumped 14,000ft out of a perfectly good plane at Byron Bay! And both of us are still grinning, giggling and shaking our heads in disbelief. 

What an experience!

I was very grateful to have landed us a couple of t-shirts from Make-A-Wish Foundation when I was in Melbourne last week - especially as they were designed and signed by Hugh Jackman (yes, sorry ladies, we didn't actually get to meet the man - only pretend that he was flush against our skin during the jump!). They came in very handy in promoting the cause when we were interviewed by Prime News Lismore!

After about four hours of waiting for the weather to clear, Skydive Byron collected us from our resort (which, as it turns out, supports Make-A-Wish!) only to wait a further two hours at the base. Talk about an anti-climax.

Eventually our turn came and we got suited up by a woman who recognised Anne straight away from her various TV shows (so much for remaining incognito in Australia, Anne!).

Neither of us was nervous. In fact, I was quite calm until they opened the roller door on the plane and I got a blast of the -5 degree temp! It was only as I was perched on the edge of the plane about to fall forward into nothingness that I felt a swarm of butterflies fill my tummy - but that may just have been the muesli bar I'd eaten an hour or so before, or the rocking motion before launching.

My gorgeous, very young dive master Alex was great at keeping me relaxed - even though he came up with a few jokes in an attempt to unhinge me like "If you hear this sound *click click*, start flapping your arms." I only found out after the jump just how young he is - a mere 21 years old - which was a good thing, but also that he just came 6th in the national championships. No wonder he was keen to do all those twirly maneuvers! It did also mean that he was comfortable enough giving me the chute to control though, which was brilliant.

The jump itself was a tough one to process. 

The 60 second free fall was so intense it felt like 5 seconds but was filled with head chatter as I tried to compute what was going on and work out whether I was enjoying myself or not. My ears hurt. Falling through clouds felt like a million needles puncturing my skin and then the same sensation as thawing out after being in freezing weather conditions. And then came the floating once the chute had opened. That was absolutely sublime. Especially when we caught the thermals and soared. It was so still. And so beautiful. I could immediately understand why dive junkies are dive junkies.

Although it's been a few days since the jump, I can still sense the wonder, feel the adrenalin coursing through my veins, and smile at the memory knowing it's changed my life forever.

And thats' exactly what I wish for the seriously ill kids who have registered their own wishes with Make-A-Wish Foundation! To get to do something they'll never forget. And hopefully make the rest go away - if only for a few minutes.

My fundraising page is still active. 

Please, now that I've learned to fly and lived to tell the tale, be generous. Visit www.gofundraise.com.au/Judith_Cantor_04 and give all the sick children in Australia a high five.

Surely the fact that a global personality like Anne was brave enough to take the plunge with me is worth lots and lots of support too?

And in the words of our friend Hugh - "Believe in dreams".

For more photos click here.

On a high!

Would you risk life for social change? Anne and I are!

Picture jumping out of a plane at 14,000feet. Screaming as you plummet towards the earth. That's what I'll be doing with global serial and social entrepreneur... Anne McKevitt!

On 20 April, we'll be making the jump at Byron Bay to raise awareness for Make-A-Wish Foundation. I, of course, am fundraising for this worthy cause too.

Make-A-Wish Foundation is a national organisation that grants wishes to children that have life-threatening medical conditions. Since 1985, the charity has granted over 5,700 wishes bringing joy and strength to some of Australia's sickest kids.

How did the skydive come about, you ask? Anne used to be my mentor and it just so happens that we share a sense of adventure and passion for social change - so I asked her to join me on my crazy April challenge. Imagine my disbelief when she said 'yes?
She is truly a dynamo and an inspiration. Just to give you an idea of some of her achievements:

- Member of President Bill Clinton's Clinton Global Initiative

- Awarded Leading Women Entrepreneur of the World 2002-2003

- Member of the Women's Leadership Board at Harvard

- Recognised by The International Herald Tribune as a World Class Entrepreneur

- Named by Time Magazine as one of Four International Business Leaders to Watch

- Placed at #30 in the Sunday Times 500 Most Powerful Britons

- Executive-in-Residence Brisbane Graduate School of Business QUT

- Chair Ernst & Young, 2006 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards

- Mentored, guided and worked with Mercedes, IKEA, Royal Doulton, Peugeot, Ernst & Young, WalMart, Deloitte, Waterford Crystal, Jeep, Bloomingdales, Saks, Pottery Barn, Moet e Chandon, Freeman's, Sainsbury's, Debenhams, Wedgewood, Marks & Spencer, Commonwealth Bank, Optus, Toyota and Hewlett Packard

- Attracted an A-list clientele to her interior design business the reads like a 'who's who' including: Sultan of Brunei, Michael Caine, Naomi Campbell, Dyan Cannon, Catherine Deneuve, Faye Dunaway, Linda Evangelista, Sir Bob Geldof, Jerry Hall, Sir Elton John, Annie Lennox, Sophia Loren, Paul and the late Linda McCartney, Kate Moss and Joan Rivers

So, now that you know who's risking her life to jump with me next week, please support our mission - to make giving part of social consciousness on a daily basis.

Make-A-Wish celebrate their 25th anniversary this year and it would be an even bigger celebration for both the organisation and the kids if you could help spread the joy by visiting www.gofundraise.com.au/Judith_Cantor_04 and make your donation today.

Can you imagine what it would be like to grant the wish of a really ill child and help speed up his or her recovery? Or turn what may ordinarily be another day of pain into an adventure?

Why wouldn't you want to be part of that?

Thanks so much for your encouragement and support, and please remember to forward this on to as many people who you can!

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!

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 

Ready to roll


Right! The groceries have been bought, my flatmate has been warned, and the scene has been set. There's now no room for interruption or temptation during my Day of Silence tomorrow in commemoration and support of women who have experienced abuse.


Show your solidarity in the 'anti-violence against women' movement by donating to www.everydayhero.com.au/judith_cantor_3. All money raised goes to the White Ribbon Foundation of Australia so they can expand their education program and offer a safe place for women to come forward and start their healing journey.


I greatly appreciate your consideration and help.


Peace.

Powerful silence

The act of not talking can mean different things to different people depending on the context. For women who have been on the receiving end of verbal, physical or sexual abuse, it can be both a blessing and a curse. For some it's their protection. For others, in a way, it's their perpetrator. For many it's both.

To honour women who, for whatever reason, feel they do not have a voice, I will be entering into a Day of Silence on Saturday 16 January. From the wee hours until the end of the day I will be abstaining from talking, reading, writing, watching the small screen, the big screen, the silver screen, any eye contact... I will, in short, be spending the day meditating on the far-reaching issue of violence against women and all that needs to be done to overcome it.

The White Ribbon Foundationare doing an admirable job of educating the public but limited funding can only reach so far. 

Please support my Day of Silence by making a donation to the Foundation via my fundraising page: www.everydayhero.com.au/judith_cantor_3 so that they can spread the word even further afield. All donations will be gratefully accepted and any over $2 are tax deductible.

Please also take a moment to think of anyone else who may be interested in Day of Silence and let them know where to reach me or read more?

Awareness is crucial to creating change and we can all make a difference.

Thank you. Very much.

Can Judith really keep her mouth closed for that long?

It's going to be a challenge, let me tell you!

From sunrise to sunset on 16 January, 2010 I will entering into a Day of Silence in support of women who have been abused - emotionally, physically or sexually - but haven't felt strong enough to talk about it.

The timing is actually quite poignant for me.

 A few short weeks ago, someone I met through Twitter emailed me and three other people about soliciting Christmas gifts for a women's shelter in Western Sydney. It's amazing how the act of asking for help can be so powerful.

Not only did we all jump at the opportunity, but we managed to secure beauty products, pampering sessions and journals for the 15 women who had most recently moved to the crisis centre, and gifts for their 35 children. The response from the companies we approached was quite unbelievable. 

The man I mentioned before blogged about the act of giving and within 40 hours, his blog had been read by 1,000 people and forwarded on 99 times. It seems human kindness is still prevalent in a busy, money-driven world!

I feel very lucky to have been part of this impromptu act of kindness, and I really hope that the presents go some way towards lifting the spirits of the women, and help them on their healing journey.

So, back to my Day of Silence next year.

Although it will not yield anything tangible, the healing energy and mindfulness I intend to practice will hopefully create a shift on a spiritual and metaphysical level.

The money raised, however, will indeed be tangible! It will go towards the White Ribbon Foundation so that they can assist women in Australia who have experienced domestic violence.

Please, please donate to this important cause via my fundraising page: www.everydayhero.com.au/judith_cantor_3.

And if you can, please also forward my message on to anyone else you feel may benefit from it, or want to help as well.

All the very best to you and your loved ones. May the Festive Season bring you much peace and joy.