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Hi Coastrekker,
In this Coastrek Newsletter we are thanking you for fundraising efforts so far, motivating you to keep going, and reminding you to train, train, train, even in the rain – read on!!
37 DAYS TO GO!
In this edition:
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25 January 2012
‘We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give’
~ Winston Churchill
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“To be blind in a situation like that means death”, Dr Kibata, Paediatric Opthalmologist, Kenya
YOU have the Power - Now use it!
Do you know that as a Coastrekker, YOU personally have the power to change hundreds, even thousands of lives?
And if WE, the 2012 Coastrekkers, raise as much as last year’s amazing walkers, we will completely transform the lives of nearly 50,000 people.
WOW!
So, as well as trekking the stunning coast of Sydney with a great bunch of people, and getting fit and healthy over summer, together we can restore sight, and save lives.
Imagine being a little girl in Nepal and your mum goes blind. She goes blind because she didn’t know about basic hygiene and how to prevent eye infections and there’s simply no doctor.
And if your mum goes blind, guess what? You stay home to look after her. You don’t learn to read and write. You are her eyes. Click HERE
Or worse still, if you’re a little Kenyan child who is born with cataracts, you’ll die within 5 years because you cant look after yourself. “To be blind in a situation like that means death”, Dr Kibata, Paediatric Opthalmologist, Kenya. Click HERE
I think it’s amazing that we have such power. This power has been given to us by The Fred Hollows Foundation and the Sydney Coastrek.
Let’s use it.
Do you know how EASY it is to get your friends to donate $25 using online fundraising?
Last year, I sent an email out to the A – K in my email address book (I was saving L-Z for another fundraising event I was taking part in), inviting my friends, business associates and family to either join me for the 50k Coastrek, OR donate $25 online to restore sight.
Guess what happened?
About 80% of them ignored the email, and 20% instantly donated $25 or more. But, that wasn’t enough for me to meet my personal target of $1,000. So, I forwarded the email again to all those who hadn’t responded, begging them for $25 to restore sight, and I smashed my target.
So, if you haven’t asked your friends, family and business colleagues for $25 to restore sight, DO IT NOW!
YOU WILL transform lives and help us reach our target of restoring sight to 50,000 people in third world countries.
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 H'Nhi |
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All the way with TEAM WA!!
Check out this great little article in the WA papers talking about TEAM WA!! HERE
The Fred Hollows and Coastrek office teams are in awe of all the effort and training that goes into each and every one of you and your teams for this great endurance challenge. And to come all the way from WA takes it to a whole new level. You guys from interstate – whether it be Queensland, Victoria or WA are AMAZING!! We applaud that extra mile you are going to to meet your challenge!!
And just on our intestate teams – if Melbourne teams have been training this week – then look out – as they will be on fire! The heat in Melbourne has been crazy, so if you can train in that heat and manage all your hydration, heat and nutritional needs – you are well on your way to handling the heat on Coastrek.
Meanwhile in Sydney of-course – it continues to rain, with sultry warm conditions…mmmm.
Expect the unexpected and train in ALL conditions. If it is raining – get out there and do it – you need to practice in the rain as there is a fair chance that’s what you will be walking in.
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All the way from Team WA!! |
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5 WEEKS TO GO!
Coastrek starts FRIDAY 2nd March |
More Coastrek Training sessions by popular demand!
Following the success of the January Coastrek Training which was booked out, the Wild Women On Top Coaches bring you two last opportunities to train with them on the Coastrek route!
Saturday 4 Feb: 7-11am/finish: Palm Beach to Narabeen
Saturday 11 Feb: 7-11am/finish: Narabeen to North Harbour Reserve
Don't miss the chance to learn some last minute tips to assist you on event day and to learn from the endurance experts!
These sessions will sell out so BOOK NOW
Sydney Coastrek Information Night
7 February 5.30 or 7.30pm
The Fred Hollows Foundation Offices 2/61-71 Dunning Avenue Rosebery Sydney
This is a not to be missed event, compulsory for first time teams. Our expert panel will give advice on safety, preparation, event day info, trail updates and how to ensure success on Coastrek ... strictly limited places so RSVP here now! Note - due to space restrictions, please only send one representative from your team if possible.
Trekking Etiquite: when you are walking on our beautiful National Parks track – remember they belong to the public. Walk to the left where possible, keep your walking poles down so as not to poke those trekkers behind you when you are climbing up hills, make sure you have rubber stoppers and PLEASE keep noise to a minumum in built up areas at night ie. Balmoral stairs, lower North Shore and in the early hours at Palm Beach.
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Training in the rain |
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New Year off to a great start!
The new year is off to a cracking start with all 20 teams on the fundraising leaderboard boasting triple figure totals, and three new names - ‘Risky Business’, ‘Multitrekkers’ and ‘Run 4 Vision’- taking out the top three spots. Our fundraising thermometer sprinted past the $100,000 mark in the middle of last week, but with a goal to raise $1000,000 by March 22 to bring sight to the needlessly blind, we’ve still got a long way to go!
Coastrekkers have tackled the fundraising challenge head on in the new year with many of you actively sending out those sponsorship emails and getting creative with your fundraising activities as we count down to event day.
If you haven’t yet activated your fundraising page or are having trouble getting started with your online fundraising, contact The Coastrek Fundraising Team at The Fred Hollows Foundation now at coastrek@hollows.org.
Don’t forget, the top three fundraising teams will be recognised at the Coastrek 2012 Awards Night where we will celebrate all your effort, training and hard work post-event! But more significantly, each one of you will be making a long-lasting difference to the lives of countless people through your fundraising. Every single dollar you raise brings us closer to Fred’s vision of a world where no one is needlessly blind. So as you step up the intensity on your training this month, channel some of that momentum into pushing up those fundraising targets to make a difference the world will see!
From the Coastrek Fundraising Team at The Fred Hollows Foundation.
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Phan, 15, from Cambodiacan now care for his mother, tend their home and keep up with his studies.
Photo: Hanh Tran, The Fred Hollows Foundation. |
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Expect the Unexpected and don’t forget your Batteries!
Head Light Batteries – can sometimes only last 2-3 hours of full strength. ENSURE you have a spare set on you.
Check out the long range forecast and make sure you are well prepared in event of wet weather!! Ensure your shoes have good GRIP!
You’re a TEAM!! Get your team t’shirts sorted and come across the line as a TEAM!!
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Graham Creed our weather man from the ABC, and his team starting Coastrek 2011 with plenty of spare batteries!! |
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‘Those who can, do. Those who can do more, volunteer’ ~ Unknown.
Volunteers – you need to register on-line not just talk about it. I have spoken to a number of people that are keen keen keen but I haven’t seen your details on-line.
Volunteers are needed at the starting lines, checkpoints and finishing lines. Jobs include registering teams, providing directions, encouraging teams, supplying water and snacks, recording times, presenting certificates and generally making the event a positive experience for all.
WHY NOT ask your friends and family to volunteer for Sydney Coastrek… they don’t bite, do they!?
To volunteer, you simply register HERE and let us know your preferred shift. We will then be in touch with you.
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Pick ME! |
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Q - How much sand will you remove from your shoes after Narrabeen beach?
A: 1 kilo
B: 2.5 kilos
C: 5 kilos
A - C – that is 5 kilos – one kilo for each kilometre!!
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Soft Sand Walking. |
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Need More Info?
7th Feb 2012 – Information Night (5.30pm and 7.30pm) RSVP HERE!
10th Feb – deadline for changing from 100k to 50k night
2nd/3rd March 2012 – WWOT Sydney Coastrek
March 22 - Awards and Thank you Volunteer Night
Click below to see online our diary!
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Diarise it NOW! |
Thanks again everyone - we look forward to seeing you on the track!!!
The Coastrek Team :) |
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