Special Fundraisers

Start your cars, rev your engines and get ready for ten action packed days travelling via out of the way places to the ultimate destination of Mount Panorama and the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000!!

Tick off two bucket list experiences by joining in the fun of the 2016 Variety Bash, beginning in Warwick and travelling via dirt roads, through outback towns making our way to the finish line – the V8 Supercar mecca of Bathurst in time for Mount Panorama to come alive with the race that stops a nation.

Along the way we will witness many special presentations, visit excited kids at many schools and raise funds for the children and families who rely on Variety – the Children’s Charity for assistance.

I am involved with the Variety Bash this year, cheering on the cars and greeting them when they roll in to Bathurst in time to watch me take to the infamous mountain. But don't worry that you cant More importantly, I will be joining in the fundraising fun to raise much needed money for children like Sophie.

Sophie from North Lakes in Queensland is a wonderful and loving nine year old girl suffering with quadriplegia, a type of cerebral palsy. Sophie needs our help now.
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Sophie has a sharp mind and a sunny personality, but this little girl is suffering terribly because her legs disengage from her hips. To stop this, doctors break both her thigh bones and reset them with steel plates and long metal screws every two years as she grows. Confined to a wheelchair right now, we hope Sophie will one day be able to sit and stand by herself.
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But for now, the pain is so unbearable that a small computer has been inserted into Sophie’s stomach to inject pain relieving drugs into her spine every day.
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Sophie needs our help now to help provide intensive therapy to make sure the operations succeed, and to relieve her pain as much as possible.
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Children's charity, Variety, will make arrangements for Sophie's therapy, but money is needed to pay for it. I have decided to donate some of what is needed. Will you join me and donate too?

Download the Giver app, where you control where your tax-deductible donation goes, and select my Special Fundraiser 'Help Renee end Sophie's pain through the virtual Variety Bash.' Together we can make Sophie's life much brighter."

The Global March for Elephant, Rhino and Lion MELBOURNE on 24 September is a call for urgent action to stop the slaughter of these critically endangered species.

ONESIE FOR WILDLIFE AND #MarchAsOnesie

Thousands of people in over 125 cities around the world will take to the streets to send a powerful global message to the delegates, asking them to vote for the strongest measures of protection for elephants, rhinos and lions. We call on them to move all populations of both species to Appendix I status, which will impose a global ban on trade in their body parts, and to reject proposals for trade in ivory or horn. There will be a contingent of southern African nations calling for such trade.

Every year, upwards of 35,000 elephants and 1,200 rhinos are brutally killed by poachers. Their tusks and horns are hacked from their faces and illegally trafficked around the world, mainly to countries in Asia where demand is highest. Heavily armed, well-organised gangs carry out the killing, and in some areas terrorist groups run the poaching and transport networks for ivory. If the slaughter continues at current levels, elephants, rhinos and lions face extinction in the wild within a generation.

This year’s march will take place on the opening day of the Convention of International Trade of Endangered Species, CoP17, in Johannesburg calling for the highest level of protection by listing them as App I.

As support for Jacinta Smith, who battled a tumor that threatened to leave her a quadriplegic, younger brother Callum will take to Port Phillip Bay on his paddle board, and attempt to complete a 3-day, 96km, journey from Sorrento to Port Melbourne. Callum was inspired by the bravery his 24 year old sister showed and he wanted to challenge his mind and body as support for Jacinta. Callum aims to raise funds for the Brain Foundation. There is little known about spinal cord tumors and much research is needed in this area. Additionally, the Brain Foundation requires support to assist hundreds of Australians suffering from neurological conditions. Help Callum achieve his goal of raising $50,000. Callum will be commencing his paddle on the 23rd of January.

Get on board and support Callum’s paddle!

Michael Fries is preparing to undertake a significant mental and physical challenge. He will be riding from Melbourne to Sydney in 12 days, covering a distance of approximately 1030km. His journey will commence at the Palais Theatre in St Kilda on March 20th and will finish at Barney Bligh Reserve in Sydney on March 31st. Michael is aiming to raise awareness and funds for the Allergy and Immunology Foundation of Australasia (AIFA).

Michael was born in 1994. When he was aged six months, he was diagnosed with allergies to egg, dairy, specific nuts, some meats, animal fur and dust mites. Michael experienced a few close calls which were life-threatening. He can empathise with the daily struggle of people afflicted with allergies and the stress and anxiety that is endured by families. Fortunately for Michael, regular monitoring and treatment, has enabled him to grow out of some of his allergies although asthma is still a present but manageable part of his life. When Michael attended The Royal Children’s Hospital Allergy and Immunology clinic, he became aware of children whose lives were severely compromised with allergies and they were dealing with obstacles he had never had to encounter.

AIFA is an innovative foundation, which aims to improve the lives of people with allergies and other immune diseases by raising public awareness and funds for medical research. Advances in knowledge may lead to earlier diagnosis, strategies for prevention, better treatments and potential cures.

Support Michael and AIFA by using the Giver app to donate. You will receive the icon above in the Special Badges section where you can view also how much you have donated and how much money was raised.

Together – we can make a difference!