April 11th - T Minus 3 weeks and counting...
The countdown is on with just over three weeks to go before The Desert Mums depart for their trek across the Simpson Desert towards a cure for breast cancer. Here is another update.
THE DESERT MUMS
Susan filmed her segment with Global television, she and all the mums have to get use to the camera being close, very close. Susan can’t believe she’ll be home in just three weeks and is on Skype several times a day and spending a lot of time organizing things at the computer.
Debbie is trying very hard to fit everything in around ‘normal household life’ (what ever that is). She pushed 450kg this week at the gym on the leg press (no she can’t believe it either) and starting to get the house in order with some spring cleaning before she leaves.
Carolyn spoke with some media this week and continues to enjoy her long walks; she loves her MBT shoes that simulate walking on an uneven surface. She feels very passionately about this journey as each of her children have been to the funeral of their best friends mother who has passed away from breast cancer.
Margot and her family have only recently moved back into their newly renovated home. Anyone who has experienced it themselves will know that is code for chaos. She has found the packing list and bag and plans to have the bag filled and in Sydney by the end of the week.
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THE SUPPORT CREW As you can see Denis’ garage has been taken over by supplies. He has been in contact with Chris the manager of the new Anaconda Everton Park store in Brisbane whose staff are pulling all the equipment together for Denis to collect. He will also collect the trailer soon from Brett Korhecz from Great Divide Camper Trailers who has customized the loan trailer so the gas bottles can be carried upright. Andrew is still enlarging this picture, he is a little concerned that none of the boxes have Penfolds, Rutherglen Wine Company or Rosemount on the side! |
Kathy Richey (Canadian documentary maker) is receiving a lot of support with loans of special equipment and also happy to report her film media visa has come through (phew!)
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THE PLAQUE Around mothers day The Desert Mums will be laying a plaque at the edge of one of the salt lakes they are crossing. This is in honor of the nearly 375,000 (mainly) women who lose their life world wide to breast cancer every year. A number too big to fathom. THE WAYS YOU CAN JOIN THE JOURNEY Kids driving you up the wall? If you are in Queensland or Melbourne go to your nearest Anaconda store and have a go at climbing their indoor rock wall. The rock walls are great fun and cost a gold coin donation to a chosen charity. During the months of March and April all proceeds from the rock wall are going to The Desert Mums and the National Breast Cancer Foundation. One of the many ways Anaconda are supporting The Desert Mums. If you are in Melbourne ‘The Last Supper’, a fund raising dinner for The Desert Mums, will be held on April 27 at the new Madeline’s @ Jells restaurant at Jells Park. $35 for limited menu three course dinner with coffee. There will be live music, raffles, and door prizes. All are welcome, contact Michael at Madeline’s @ Jells to book on 9561 4522. |
Have you had your guess yet of how many steps you think the Desert Mums will take walking across the Simpson Desert? By having a guess in the competition it will be like joining them on the walk, except you just guess the steps, they have to take them, so thankfully it’s not really like joining them is it? Entry is a $10 donation and there are fabulous prizes. Entry forms are available online via the NBCF website
Do you know of anyone that might like to make a pledge or donation? Do you know of a company that would want to be associated with four average Australian women undertaking a grueling, uniquely Australian, challenge to benefit complete strangers so that their children may enjoy the gift of growing old with their mothers? Please contact your local desert mum, or Debbie on 0419 583 000 or log on to their web site www.desertmums.com
THE BALLOON ARTISTS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA & BOC
The BASA are proud supporters of The Desert Mums supplying them with pink biodegradable latex balloons for their balloon launch from the top of ‘big red’ the Simpson’s most famous sand dune, to honor the 2,500 Australians that lose their lives to breast cancer every year. Watch out for their displays inside accredited balloon suppliers around Australia during May. BOC have proudly supplied the gas, with their local rep Nikki Davis driving out to Denis’ house last week to drop off the regulators and a have a cuppa.
THE TALLY TOTAL
The Desert Mums are aiming to raise $105,000 that will fund a three year research program which they hope will find the cure for breast cancer (you never know!) The word is getting out about these four gutsy women and their goal, companies and individuals alike are proud to be involved, usually after they say ‘are you serious?’ Thanks last week to the generosity of Gary Anderson from Protiviti, Wayne Mansfield from The Maverick Spirit and Malcolm Ebb from Frontier Software and a large number of individuals their tally now stands at an impressive $76,987. More and more people are realising this is a chance to be a part of something special.