City2Surf novice speeding ahead

On Sunday, Sook Smith will run her first City2Surf to raise funds for Mission Australia. Currently one of the event’s Top 10 fundraisers, she’s already off to a great start:

"This is my first year doing The Sun Herald City2Surf. I’d thought about it over the last few years but wasn’t ready to commit. This year a few girlfriends are doing it so it was enough encouragement to get me to sign up.

Having my maiden run at 46 meant that I really needed to stick to my training. Making use of the intermediate training suggestions on the City2Surf website made this easier and I made the commitment to stick to my training no matter what. Although this sometimes had me running in my raincoat!

When deciding to fundraise it was important to me to pick a charity in Australia that supports Australians, especially youth, unemployed and homeless. Quite often we hear about charities in developing countries but sometimes we miss what’s in our own backyard. This is the reason I chose to support Mission Australia

Once I began fundraising I made the approach to the Jaques Stanmore Foundation, the foundation within our business - The Jaques Stanmore Financial Group (http://www.jaquesstanmore.com.au). I know them to be very supportive, but had no idea how supportive until they informed me that for every dollar I raise up to $3,000 they will match those funds. So of course my step was to figure out how to raise $3,000 to get the most from my fundraising!

I started off by emailing my friends, family and clients and was completely overwhelmed by all the support I received from them and from my business partners. The company was also kind enough to support me in having a fundraising morning tea where I put baking skills to work in the cake raffle, where the prize was a cake for any occasion baked by me.

I think fundraising is all about working to your own skill sets and being as creative as you can. My advice to others thinking about fundraising is Go for It. It encourages you to race better and with the help of email and the internet, it’s easy.

The run on 14 August is all about enjoying myself and the spirit and atmosphere of the event. Hopefully I get a good race time and the fundraising is an added bonus!"

Share the fun
Supporters can meet up with their sponsored runners after the race at a Mission Australia barbecue on Sunday. We’re setting up just over the finish line at Ramsgate Avenue, near the North Bondi RSL - so come along and grab a snag and a drink. Look out for the Missionbeat van and the Mission Australia banner!

To get behind our runners, including Team MA from our homeless services, visit www.fundraise.city2surf...

Superheroes to tackle the City2Surf

On Sunday, Carlos Romero and his family will take on The Sun-Herald City2Surf to raise funds for Mission Australia. Here he shares why this event – and the cause – means so much to him.

"As the Telstra Operations Manager of the Social Services and Not for Profit Sector I have built a great relationship with Mission Australia over the past six years - a place where motivation and inspiration are easy to find.

Missionbeat is one of my favourite Mission Australia services. It’s headed up by one of Sydney’s most influential and inspirational people when it comes to social welfare - Daniel Strickland. I follow Daniel on Twitter and Facebook and he was my first motivator to get started with City2Surf. I have always wanted to compete against Daniel - and win!.

This is my first time doing City2Surf and I will be running alongside my family. It’s also the first time they have run beside me in such a large-scale event, or anything that involves running or walking more than 80 metres. I think my wife and kids are excited about the prospect of beating me at something sports related (all the sporting trophies at home currently have my name on them).

Training with kids
Kids, as we know, are generally never still; even when mine are enjoying an ice-cream at home they are constantly on the move. So when it came to training, their regimes were much cheaper than mine.

Having exciting race-day attire is important in my family and money saved on training has since been spent on outfits for the day. Celio, 2, will be sporting a Superman costume but his older brother Marcius, 4 (both pictured) thought Spiderman was by far the superior option. I have a strong feeling they will cross, or fly, over the line well before their father.

My training has been going well, since moving to our new house in Parramatta. While we had wanted to build a huge state of the art training facility much like the ones used by Olympians and the very fit NRL stars at Moore Park, we could only afford a cheap exercise bike.

It’s come to my attention that those very fit NRL Sydney Roosters have been training Daniel and the Missionbeat team, but I don’t feel they will be a match for my cheap exercise bike. I also have an added advantage over Daniel in this race. However, I cannot disclose all my secrets in this article, you will have to stay tuned to find out more! I will say this though; it is something I intend to wear to rival Daniel’s rainbow shoes.

Putting the fun into fundraising
I feel City2Surf and fundraising are a perfect match, it brings the ‘fun’ and ‘raising awareness’ onto the world stage, and brings a few laughs with it too. On a serious note though, it’s a joy to be able to help others in need, especially when God blesses a positively charged middle-class male with a good family, good health, a little wealth and plenty of good times.

With this attitude, one lives life without counting dollars and cents, but counting sense in community partnership, in social justice and in personal success towards bridging the wide gap between being very poor and very rich, which means a lot more to me.

The prize at the end of the day for me is raising money for people less privileged than me, knowing that they are being looked after by Mission Australia. Regardless of whether you are first or last, the best part of reaching your destination is the long and winding but memorable road that leads you there."

Support our superheroes
If you’d like to get behind any of the teams running in support of Mission Australia – including those MA Team runners from our Sydney homeless services who are being coached by the Sydney Roosters - visit this page. You’ll also find links to other fundraising events, such as our 2011 Winter Sleepout.

Supporters run up a great fundraising tally

Thanks to everyone who went the distance at Run Melbourne earlier this month to raise funds for Mission Australia services in Victoria.

The 16-person strong Run DMC from Digital Pictures, who raised almost $1,800, made up a large part of the 22 supporters who took to the streets to help raise money for services such as Charcoal Lane in Fitzroy and the Urban Renewal program. Together they raised a very much appreciated $2,698.

Among the runners was Emily Day (pictured on her way home after the run) who was decked out in a blue cap, red tights and neon-pink shorts and top. Despite a few wardrobe malfunctions, she had a great day – and exceeded both her personal best and fundraising target by pulling in $365.

“Yes, everyone at work was very generous!” she wrote this week. “The day was awesome, I wore a super-hero costume with a cape and despite the cape strangling me at various times during the course, I still managed a PB of 26 minutes 15 seconds for the 5km.

“I ran with my dad the whole way until the end when I pipped him at the post, which was good because he kept winning on our training runs!”

The marathon and fun-run season is still far from over, so you can still sponsor a runner who is trying to raise money for Mission Australia. We have 69 registrations for Sydney’s City2Surf on Sunday 14 August but still need plenty of support to reach our target.

If you’d like to get behind any of the teams running in support of Mission Australia – including those MA Team runners from our Sydney homeless services who are being coached by the Sydney Roosters - visit this page. You’ll also find links to other fundraising events, such as our 2011 Winter Sleepout.

Good luck to our Run Melbourne supporters

Mission Australia wishes all of our supporters taking part in Run Melbourne this weekend the best of luck.

Runners for Team Mission Australia in Melbourne and Digital Pictures’ Run DMC team will tread the city’s streets on Sunday to raise money for Mission Australia services in Victoria, including our Charcoal Lane social enterprise restaurant in Fitzroy and the Urban Renewal program.

They are part of a community of active supporters taking part in winter and spring fun runs and marathons in Perth, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide to help fund our life-changing services.

Among the runners are several clients from our Sydney homeless services who are taking part in this year’s City2Surf on Sunday 14 August.

This morning, for the fifth week in a row, Sydney Roosters players led Mission Australia City2 Surf team members through a training session at the club’s HQ in Moore Park. Big thanks to Roosters Jake Friend (pictured with the MA Team’s Wayne), Lama Tasi, Ethan Lowe and Cheyse Blair for taking the time out to offer advice, fitness tips and motivation to our City2Surf Team. Also a huge thank you to the generous people from Fit for Good for kitting out the MA Team members with new shorts and drink bottles.

If you’d like to support the MA Team as they take on the City2Surf challenge next month, go to their City2Surf fundraising page.

If you’d like to get behind any of the teams running in support of Mission Australia, visit this page. You’ll also find links to other fundraising events, such as our 2011 Winter Sleepout.+

Kristin on her mark to make a difference

everydayhero.com.au/kristin_flanagan_GC

Mission Australia supporter Kristin Flanagan is gearing up to compete in the Gold Coast Marathon this weekend. Here she explains why the event is much more than just a test of endurance for her:

Just over 12 months ago I entered the Gold Coast Marathon event to run the 10km race. It was to be a very large milestone for me: marking the furthest I had ever run and the only time I had entered a running race that wasn’t a prerequisite at school. My family, friends and colleagues helped raise more than $500 for Mission Australia.

Over the past couple of months I have started running again and my sights are now set on completing a half marathon in the first week in July. Call me crazy, deluded, insane or just plain ill-advised: you’d probably be close to the truth. However, there is another reason apart from the obvious one of getting fit.

I worked at Mission Australia for two-and-a-half years, and although I no longer work there, I remain passionately committed to their extremely important and tireless work supporting Australians in need of assistance through their innovative programs and supportive framework. I figure if I can raise more than $500 for just doing a 10km race, chances are we may be able to raise more if I run even further. I have been blown away by contributions made by my friends, family and previous colleagues to my fundraising - together, we have raised just over $1,000.

For the record, I am not a runner. I don’t get a buzz from running and I don’t look forward to it like the passionate runners among us do. I get nervous before each run as I am worried I won’t make it and each step during a run is a hard. For me, this will be a labour of pain and test of my personal will in an attempt acknowledge and raise awareness for people who are less fortunate than myself.

I acknowledge their debilitating daily struggles, most of which I cannot even imagine, and I hope the contribution we can make through this fundraising attempt will be able to assist someone transform their life from one filled with despair to one of overflowing with hope.

Half marathon here we come...

If you would like to donate to support, please visit my page at everydayhero.com.au/kristin_flanagan_GC

How you can run for a reason
If you’re preparing up for a winter marathon or fun run, why not join Kirsten in helping Australians in need?

To support to Mission Australia while getting fit, simply follow one of the links below to your chosen event, register online and select Mission Australia as your charity of choice. We can help you set up your own unique fundraising page to share with your friends and family so that you can start fundraising to transform lives.

Events:

• Gold Coast Marathon, 2-3 July, goldcoastmarathon.com.au
• Run Melbourne, 17 July, runmelbourne.com.au
• City2Surf (Sydney), 14 August, city2surf.com.au
• City to Surf (Perth), 28 August, citytosurf.activ.asn.au
• Bridge to Brisbane, 1 September, bridgetobrisbane.com.au
• City-Bay (Adelaide), 18 September, city-bay.org.au
• Sydney Running Festival, 18 September, sydneyrunningfestival.com.au

Running for a reason

If you’re one of the thousands of runners gearing up for a winter marathon or fun run, why not take the opportunity to help out an Australian in need?

Events such as the upcoming Gold Coast Marathon, Run Melbourne, the Sydney City2Surf and Perth City to Surf, as well as running festivals in Brisbane, Adelaide and Sydney in Spring, can be much more than chances to get healthy and take on a personal challenge.

To support to Mission Australia while getting fit, simply follow one of the links below to your chosen event, register online and select Mission Australia as your charity of choice. We can help you set up your own unique fundraising page to share with your friends and family so that you can start fundraising to transform lives.

By getting behind Mission Australia this season you’ll be joining the Sydney Roosters, who are once again training clients from our Sydney men’s services for the City2Surf. This morning Roosters Jake Friend and Todd Carney met the group of 30 men they will work with over the next two months in preparation for the 14 August challenge.

Events:

• Gold Coast Marathon, 2-3 July, goldcoastmarathon.com.au
• Run Melbourne, 17 July, runmelbourne.com.au
• City2Surf (Sydney), 14 August, city2surf.com.au
• City to Surf (Perth), 28 August, citytosurf.activ.asn.au
• Bridge to Brisbane, 1 September, bridgetobrisbane.com.au
• City-Bay (Adelaide), 18 September, city-bay.org.au
• Sydney Running Festival, 18 September, sydneyrunningfestival.com.au

Get active and make a difference

The winter running season is almost here, with a host of marathons, fun runs and half-marathons planned across the country over the coming months.

There’s the Gold Coast Marathon on the weekend of 2-3 July, Run Melbourne on 17 July, the Sydney City2Surf on 14 August and the Perth City to Surf on 28 August, with more events planned in Brisbane, Adelaide and Sydney during September.

These events not only offer a great chance to get healthy and take on a challenge, but also the opportunity to help raise funds for Mission Australia’s work with disadvantaged Australians.

Simply follow one of the links below to your chosen event, register online and select Mission Australia as your charity of choice. We can help you set up your own unique fundraising page to share with your friends and family so that you can start fundraising to transform lives.

If you’re planning to take part in the Sydney City2Surf or the Gold Coast Marathon you’ll have to move quickly as earlybird registrations (with a discounted entry fee) for both events close on 1 June.

So why not get moving to make a difference this winter?

Events

• Gold Coast Marathon, 2-3 July, goldcoastmarathon.com.au
• Run Melbourne, 17 July, runmelbourne.com.au
• City2Surf (Sydney), 14 August, city2surf.com.au
• City to Surf (Perth), 28 August, citytosurf.activ.asn.au
• Bridge to Brisbane, 1 September, bridgetobrisbane.com.au
• City-Bay (Adelaide), 18 September, city-bay.org.au
• Sydney Running Festival, 18 September, sydneyrunningfestival.com.au

Mission Australia kicks off training for City2Surf

Mission Australia's preparation for the 2010 City2Surf is officially underway with the Sydney Roosters hosting the first training session at Moore Park last Thursday.

For the third year in a row, clients from Mission Australia's homeless mens services in Sydney will participate in the event.

This year the team's training schedule is designed by Sydney Roosters forward Jason Baitieri, and facilitated by the Michael Project's Recreation Officer, Adam Bowden.

The Roosters will host fortnightly training sessions for the weeks leading up to the City2Surf, which should provide an interesting training project for 'coach' Jason Baitieri:

“I had a fantastic time helping the guys out and passing on my knowledge that I have gained through my years playing rugby league. I am looking forward to seeing the progress over the coming weeks leading up to City2Surf”

As part of their Community Engagement Program, Sydney Roosters work with charities like Mission Australia to encourage players to take responsibility for community engagement in addition to playing commitments.