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 kayakersFebruary 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 rollRight! 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 silenceThe 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.
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