Friends of Brain Injured Children - Update from Libby

Dear Clayton

What a friend you are. The money you raised for us last year gave our funds a terrific boost. We have a few new children on our help list now, so it was most welcome.

Thank you for offering to raise some $$$ for us again this year.

The details you need are:
Commonwealth Bank
Account: 00903646
BSB: 062902

Address is

Friends of Brain Injured Children ACT Inc
c/- SHOUT Office
PO Box 717
Mawson ACT 2607

We have had a few good changes this year. Three new babies have come into the group. This will allow an early start on their intensive therapy programs. We hope this will help them make great progress. One of our lovely girls has reached 18 and moved out of the group. She has a terrific future ahead of her, disability free, I believe.

The other children are growing well. Some have made significant progress. All the others are more healthier and have less pain.

One of our little boys has been a pioneer with stem cell therapy, helped a little by our funds. we are really intersted in his progress. In four months his dribbling has stopped (this is often a problem for children with poor muscle tone), he is much stronger and can push himself upright in his chair, and has had his first winter without infections.

The kids had the best Christmas party ever. A really great Santa brought gifts for all, a choir sang and we had two magicians. The kids loved it. We get help with the costs, so our own money can go completely for children's therapy.

Our grant has been increased to $7,500 (not big bikkies, I know) for admin and we've increased our office administrator's hours from 4 a week to 8. This has proved a real help as we are now able to visit the local maternity hospitals and give the staff information about how we can help children brain injured at birth. We are also talking to pediatricians and special schools to see if there are other children and parents we can help.

Of course, the more successful we are at finding children with brain injuries the more we need to help pay for their therapies.

Thanks for offering some more help for the kids. It is really encouraging to our efforts.

Keep in touch, on my new email, though.

Have a fun run.

Cheers
Libby

London Triathlon: My Charity in the UK

PLEASE SPONSOR ME!!

My Charity in the UK

BARNARDO'S

On 8th August (i.e. in less than a month!!) Rachel and I will be putting ourselves through a lot of pain when we'll be swimming 1,500m, cycling 40km and then finishing it all off with a short 10km run...! I know it is all self-inflicted, but to help ease the pain and at the same time helps some disadvantaged kids, it would be great if you could sponsor us so that Barnardo's can continue the fantastic work they are doing with disadvantaged children.

Barnardo's believe in the potential of every child and young person, no matter who they are, what they have done or what they have been through. Whatever the issue, from drug mis-use to disability; youth crime to mental health; sexual abuse to domestic violence; poverty to homelessness; Barnardo's believe they can bring out the best in every child and run over 415 projects across the UK. Learn more about Barnardo's on their website.

You can sponsor us through our fundraising page with Virgin Money Giving.

We really appreciate all of your support and donations.

Watch this space for details of what it's like to swim again after several years hiatus...

London Triathlon: My Charity in Australia

PLEASE SPONSOR ME!!

Friends of Brain Injured Children

When I did the London Marathon with the support of a number of people we managed to raise $2,823 - at roughly $60 a session you all helped provide 47 much needed sessions, including physiotherapy, massage, osteopathy, chiropractic or acupressure. None of these services are provided by any government source, so the parents are always struggling to pay therapy costs. This is why I want to raise funds again for FBIC as I aim to swim 1,500m, cycle 40km and run 10km on 8th August.

As many of you know, my Godson, Ryan, had a few ‘complications’ when he was born which resulted in him being born with brain damage. Cara & Jeff, Ryan's parents, were provided with a lot of support from FBIC who helped them get through some very difficult times.

You can learn more about FBIC on their website.

If you would like to support FBIC, please send a cheque made out to “Friends of Brain Injured Children (ACT) Inc” to the below address. All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible and a receipt will be provided. Please let them know you are supporting my triathlon so we know how much we’ve raised together.

Friends of Brain Injured Children
SHOUT Office
PO Box 717
Mawson ACT 2607

Or alternatively payments can be made electronically to their Commonwealth Bank account at:

Friends of Brain Injured Children
BSB: 062 902
Account number: 00903646

Please email Libby Steeper at libbysteeper@gmail.com with your name and address, date & amount donated and receipt number (if known) so they can send/email you a receipt.

Thanks for your support!!

ROUND TWO!

Just a quick note to let you all know that I've got a place in the 2010 London Triathlon!! Craziness all round!! Rather than running 42km like I did last year, I've decided to make things a bit easier on myself - yeah right...

The triathlon will be a 1,500m swim followed by a 40km cycle followed by a 10km run.

Each on their own looks fine, which is what I've been thinking until recently when it struck me that I have to do them one after the other, which no longer looks so easy...

Anyway, I'll be doing some fundraising again this year and I hope everyone will be generous and help me raise as much as possible. Like last year, I will be raising funds for a UK and an Australian charity - more to come on the charities and how you can help support me.

I'll be raising funds in the UK with Rach, who will also be competing at the same distance.

Stay tuned for more details!

Clayts