Through friends I met Stephanie Harvey and heard about her fundraising efforts for Indigenous Community Volunteers.   Initially I just wanted to donate to an organisation that I have admired for a while now but when I read the details of the Walkabout for Change something magical happened for me.  I just knew that this was the right thing for me to do and so here I am - outside my comfort zone in all sorts of ways.

Why is Walkabout for Change the right thing for me to do?

Basically it affirms so many aspects of my life and in particular some of the difficult changes I have made in the last few years. 

For my family and many dear friends, you will know this story but for others some of this will be new information.  In mid 2008 I was diagnosed with uterine cancer which was pretty shocking particularly after losing my beloved sister Jill to ovarian cancer in 2003. However I can now look back and feel that I was incredibly lucky.  I almost feel like Jill was watching over me, because in comparison to the raw deal that she had, I got off very lightly with one serious but totally successful operation. No chemo, no radiotherapy required – they just cut out the cancer and then I was left to get on with my life. 

Those of you who knew me back in 2008 will know that I struggled to recover from the operation despite my excellent medical care. In those days I was incredibly obese and had been since my late teens. So in a funny way I thank the cancer as it caused me to finally deal with my obesity.  So in late 2009 I underwent bariatric surgery and as a result had to totally change my approach to food and eating. Then I did something I never thought I would do – I tackled my total lack of fitness. Two key people have helped with this – my friend Rachel by training with me and my personal trainer Ross Blake from B32 who has the patience and vision for a long haul project. So now my overall health is good, I am the fittest I have ever been and I have lost about 65kgs in weight.

I thought about the idea of walking the Larapinta Trail and with all the changes I have made in the last few years I realised that I am physically capable of doing it. This is my reward for all the work I have done to improve my health and fitness.

So why am I fundraising for Indigenous Community Volunteers?

After about 6½ years of working as a public servant on implementing social and health programs for Indigenous communities I recently moved away from this kind of work.  Fundraising for Indigenous Community Volunteers allows me in a small way to continue to contribute in making a positive difference for Indigenous Australians.  Indigenous Community Volunteers is committed to working with Indigenous communities over the longer term.  They use a community development approach which respects, empowers and listens to the Indigenous people they work with.

What is my fundraising goal?

To generate at least $5400 in donations for Indigenous Community Volunteers by the end of my Walkabout for Change in July 2012.

As part of committing to this trip I have been asked to fundraise $3000 but I want to do more.  So to celebrate that I recently turned 54 I have chosen to set my personal fundraising challenge amount as $5400 but I will need your help to do it.

Why should you help my fundraising to walk the Larapinta Trail?

I have thought of three reasons for you to donate:

1.     You would like to encourage and support me to make this trip in recognition of the big changes I have made in my life; or

2.     You would like to support the excellent work that Indigenous Community Volunteers does to work with Indigenous communities; or

3.     A combination of both reasons will encourage you to give generously.

Please give it some thought and donate as generously as you can. 

I am funding the travel component of $2,400 myself. 

So all your donations will go to Indigenous Community Volunteers and all donations over $2 are tax deductable.

Finally I will be delighted for any contribution that you can make – no matter how big or small.

Anybody wanting to contact me can do so by email at 4glen@grapevine.com.au.  I am hoping to let you know how my trip preparations and training go – so I will be in touch again soon.

Cheers

Glenda