I’d rather be walking

I guess most of us girls would but it was wonderful for “Wainwright’s Coast2Coast MS Walk” to be acknowledged at MS Research Australia’s 2014 Kiss Goodbye to MS launch at NSW Parliament house last night as 2014’s  FUNDRAISING EVENT OF THE YEAR. And we haven’t even started.  The pressure is on girls but you are over well over 25% of the way and with further fundraising events to come and donation support from family and friends we will achieve our goal of raising $150,000 for research into a cure for MS.

My wonderful husband spoke from the heart about the struggles he faces each day and how the disease’s progression has forced him to constantly readjust how he does things. Resting before attending these events is now mandatory if he is to give himself the best chance of delivering his speech in the way he would like. An accomplished public speaker Mike now relies heavily on his notes to ensure he doesn’t forget what he wants to say. I, on the other hand, know exactly what I want to say but rely heavily on my notes to ensure I deliver my message with the confidence and ease Mike has never had to grapple with. We are an excellent team and I so much admire him for the support he gives me to continue telling our story and for his tenacity to keep on going despite MS’s constant presence.

Here’s Tansey Keys giving Mike a few tips on how she plans to get over those fells.

It was a thrill to have 12 of the 17 Australians walking all-the-way attend the event last night. With 5 more to be added I think we could do with a photo shoot organiser. Just squeezing 11 (sans Liz McDonald who was somewhere in the room) and Mike into this photo proved quite a challenge. Happy for advice on how we best position 20 people (including 3 Brits also walking with us) for the many photo opportunities that will invariably arise with majestic Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and North York Moor backdrops, and then the pub shots as well as we toast the end of yet another successful walking day.

As I mentioned in my speech two of the girls walking with us have MS. The disease is often called the invisible disease because you can’t spot the varying symptoms people with MS may be experiencing at any one time. Can you see numbness, nausea, dizziness or altered sensation such as pins and needles or even partial blindness and cognitive impairment? If you didn’t know them I suspect it would be difficult for you to spot the girls in this photo living with MS.

But I suspect you can see these lovely ladies, Denise and Sally having their way with my husband. Hey girls! Hands off. He’s taken.

After we left the event Liz and I didn’t make it past the beautiful vestibule of this historic building without ripping off our shoes. Too used to wearing appropriate footwear we found the evening a huge challenge for feet not used to high heels and being squeezed into pointy toes. Oh, for a hiking boot. With a band aid on most toes we’ll back out at this weekend walking from Cowan to Brooklyn as we prepare for this fantastic event.

Please continue to support our event by clicking this link to donate. Or come to Eastern Rd Quality Meats Turramurra this Saturday May 3 from 8.30am and enjoy a sausage sizzle with Denise Temisgian and Katrina Hemingway serving you. Our  thanks to business owner, Allan Waldon, for hosting and donating all the goods to assist us maximise our fundraising dollars.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bakers’ Delights

Just seeing the overwhelming response from all our friends was simply amazing.

From Katrina a big thank you to Karen, Gail, Cheryl, Kendy, Mandy, Denise, Pauline, Sue and last but not least my very good buddy, fellow walker and cook extraordinaire, Liz Melchior. From Liz special thanks goes to Patsy, Gabby and Noni for their team work and condiment making skills.

And a special mention to Laura for making the rice paper logos which looked wonderful.

Finally a very special mention to Sam and her dedicated bakers – Marg, Esther, Kerrie, Margo, Eva,Fiona, Jenny, Meredith, Louise, Lauren, Myra, Rebekah, Kris, Gayle, Cathy and Sue whose baking efforts were simply superb. We hope we mentioned you all and sincerely apologise if we have a missed a name or two. We hope you can assist us again in 3 weeks if so inclined. Dural’s residents need you.

Here’s just a sample of all our wonderful goodies.

Thank you to Dural Bunnings for the excellent setup. Gazebo and tables miraculously appeared and we were ready to start selling by 8am. A special thank you to Sam and Cheryl for helping us decorate, set up and serve. And thank you to Dural Rotary who ran the BBQ for your company and patronage alongside us. Your savoury and our sweet were excellent complements to the car park decor.

The man who gave us a home amongst the gum trees, the perennially youthful Don Burke, was also there to lend his support. And we met many people whose lives have been affected by MS.

Donations were a little hard to come by today. I think getting a sugar hit was far more important. But this essentially is what the stall was all about. And there were lots.

Anzac Cookies, Choc Chip Cookies, Vanilla Cookies, Coconut Slice, Date and Walnut Slice, Caramel and Pecan Slice, Almond Shortbreads, Melting Moments, Lemon Slice, Chocolate Brownies, Chocolate Freckles Slice, Maple Biscuits, Greek Easter Biscuits, Rocky Road, Mars Bar Biscuits, Mint Aero Biscuits, Lemon Cake, Gluten Free Friands, GF Cakes, GF Fudge, GF Red Velvet Cup Cakes, Carrot and Walnut Cakes, Orange Cake, Banana Bread, Banana & Pineapple Cake, Chocolate Cakes, Dairy Free Cakes, Magdalenas, Lamingtons, Cinnamon Tea Cake, Beetroot and Apple Chutney, Lime and Chilli Jam and lots of Lollies. My apologies if I have missed noting your particular contribution. Everyone’s support for our fundraising event was exceptional. We couldn’t have done it without you.

An impressive $900 is added to our fundraising total. Liz and I will be staging another cake stall at Dural Bunnings in 3 weeks’ time on Saturday May 17. If you would like to contribute again we would be most appreciative.

Wainwright’s Coast2Coast MS team, a 16 women and 1 man affair, is now a quarter of the way to reaching our goal of $150,000. Without the wonderful help we have received so far from our family and friends this accomplishment would not have been achievable. Please keep on helping us reach our goal. The money we raise will fund 2 senior researchers for 1 year. It is important the research continues as we get closer to unlocking the mystery of MS and ultimately finding a cure.

Thank you again to all who contributed to another successful “Wainwright’s Coast2Coast MS Walk” pre-walk fundraising event. If you wish to help bake for our next cake stall please email c2cmswalk@gmail.com and we will get back to you or if you would simply like to make a donation please click this link to donate to the team or select your favourite team member if you would like to specifically support their efforts.

Thank you so much. Every $1 counts and we appreciate your support for our efforts to find a cure for MS.

 

 

Liz, where are you?

With Mike experimenting with his camera in anticipation of a one-on-one photography course with a Lakeland professional photographer in early September there were many great people opportunities for him to try but do you think he could find one with Liz? Our fantastic hostess of this great Logan Wines wine tasting event for family and friends in aid of Wainwright’s Coast2Coast MS Walk was  not to be seen – by Mike that is.

Katrina with Beth looking for Liz

As I saw her everywhere welcoming guests, serving cocktails, pouring a great range of Logan wines, serving canapes beautifully cooked and presented by her No Agenda club (the perfect excuse for a girlie get together), selling raffle tickets and thanking everyone for their attendance on yet another spectacular Sydney afternoon. The figure is yet to be finalised but Liz believes it is in the order of $2500. Thank you for the considerable effort you put in to this day. These events don’t just sell themselves. Several weeks of preparation, many offers of assistance and good publicity is what makes a successful event. Brilliantly executed Liz. My hat goes off to you where ever you are.

Here’s a blast from the past from the Mudgee2Sydney Walk – the wonderful John Hoskin and his wife Cathy. John joined us for the Lithgow to Mt Victoria leg of the journey and I think another day. Unfortunately he can’t join us for our next challenging fundraising walk but he and Cathy have kindly offered to walk the route for us in the next few months and give Liz and I a first hand report on their return.

And there’s the lovely Kirsten who walked with Liz and I when we did the Bay of Fires Walk in Tassie. Oh the memories – another wonderful walk. And hubby Charles was our pro bono photographer for our Mudgee2Sydney MS Walk. Girls, he has kindly offered to take more photos of the team and will gladly join us for a training walk – just name the date. Thank you Charles. We may indeed take you up on your generous offer.

So it was a wonderful afternoon shared with new friends, old friends – hello Diane and Greg from Quakers Hill –

and family, of course. Liz’s sister, Patsy, was the proud winner of the 2011 Trent Copeland Sheffield Shield raffle prize. Fits her perfectly. She has a mad keen cricketing family member who may steal it from her or perhaps Liz’s son Hugh, on the left, has his eye on it.

Another successful Kiss Goodbye to MS fundraiser with our team now 1/6th of the way to reaching our target of $150,000. Logan Wines will donate 20% of all wine sales ordered through Liz to our fundraising cause so if you are tempted to try some great Orange/Mudgee varietals please email us at c2cmswalk@gmail.com and we can put you in touch with Liz. If unable to purchase any wine please consider donating to Liz’s fundraising page as she works towards reaching her $10,000 target. Thank you for your support as we continue to raise vital funds for research into a cure for MS.

 

 

 

A fine weather weekend

Lots of laughter, music, great food and fine wine. MuSic in the Vineyard was a testimony to the power of team work.

“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” Ok. So it’s a baseball quote but I think highly appropriate for what we achieved this weekend. Our hubbies gravitated to the BBQ and did a wonderful job cooking sausages, chicken koftas, and vegetable patties. Our walkers chopped, thermomixed, heated and served. See the menu behind for the wonderful choice offered.

To Julie and Peter Mortimer, thank you for opening your vineyard for our fundraiser and being such wonderful hosts.

From Left, Jackie Christopherson, Pauline Rogers, Denise Temisgian, Helen Garnett, Debbie Bird, Liz Melchior, Katrina Hemingway, Peter Mortimer, Julie Mortimer, Bron Dowling, Sally Hawthorne, Tansey Keys and Merran Cooper

To Into the Blue, Lynda Manwaring and November Shorn thank you for offering your wonderful musical talent to us for this occasion.

To Bron Dowling and Jackie Christopherson, organisers extraordinaire, thanks for showing us city slickers what country hospitality is all about. Raising $7,000 is a wonderful contribution to our fundraising target.

Now for those unfamiliar with weather conditions in Australia the week preceding this event was marked by heavy downpours for several days. I’d say it was definitely more torrential than the English rain we are likely to encounter but the fact it persisted did concern us. Was Wainwright’s Coast2Coast adventure, a route notoriously renowned for its unpredictable weather, going to give us a taste of things to come downunder? No way!

Look at this picturesque scene.  Based on the overwhelming success of this fundraising event I’m even prepared to say an Indian summer may well await us.

Now for much of its history Australia depended on wool as its main export, and so the notion arose that Australia was “riding on the sheep’s back”. A cure for MS may well ride on the success of Wainwright’s Coast2Coast MS Walk. And so the ram goes.

Goodnight Orange. Thank you for a great weekend. Watch this space for more exciting fundraising events in support of our walk.  To support the team please follow this link

Last minute is ok

MuSic in the Vineyard is fast approaching -this Saturday 29th March from 11am at Mortimers Vineyard in Orange. All are welcome. Tickets still available. Please see previous blog “Thankyou Jackie and Bron” for details.

But where are the “Kiss Goodbye to MS” aprons for hubbies and assistants to wear when cooking delectable lamb burgers on the barbie? Well, MS Research Australia is still waiting for them to arrive. No sweat.  Get a few seamstresses who happen to like walking  like Pauline Rogers, Sally Hawthorne and assistance from Denise Temisgian’s sister, Sue Cassa, and Voila! Thank you girls. Always about the  ‘fun’draising.

So last minute decisions to join us or sponsor us are warmly welcomed. You’ll never know if you don’t give it a go.

Well apparently you can

Get a budding professional photographer to assist you and look at how well behave they can become. One week later, still with brilliant weather we introduce another dog, Maverick with Denise at the front.

And more importantly we have another walker from Australia joining us. Welcome Pauline Rogers, far right, who is going to walk the Lake District with us. Like Pauline you can be a part-of-the-way walker too. Your participation and support for our cause is as much appreciated as those walking all-the-way. With 5 months to go there is still plenty of time for training and serious consideration of joining us for part of Wainwright’s Coast2Coast MS Walk – a “fun”draising adventure not to be missed.  What are you waiting for?

 

Thank you Jackie and Bron

From Left Bron Dowling and Jackie Christopherson

Thank you for joining us on this exciting adventure to raise vital funds for research into a cure for this debilitating disease. Thank you for your commitment to escalating the continued research that is needed to find the cause of MS, develop better therapies for those currently living with the disease and hopefully find the cure that will prevent future generations from ever contracting it.

Without commitment from such dynamic women as yourselves hope and a cure would not be possible.

View their story on Prime Time TV

Your commitment to walking towards a world free of MS has not gone unnoticed.

The remaining girls and gentlemen participating in this event can not wait to share this wonderful fundraising experience with you.

Thank you for believing a cure can be found and assisting us raise awareness about the debilitating impact of MS on the lives of people currently living with it.

Bring it on. Now only 5 months to go and we can’t wait.

To donate to the cause please follow this link or select Jackie or Bron from the team page to donate to their individual fundraising page.

If you would like to meet Jackie and Bron there are still tickets available for Saturday 29th March “MuSic in the Vineyards” hosted by the girls as part of their fundraising drive for the walk. Come to beautiful Orange, enjoy some great gourmet lamb burgers accompanied by fine wine and good beer from Mortimers Vineyard and the best bush dancing and jazz quartets this side of the Central Ranges.

Welcome Eli, Ruby and Hamish but can you work with them?

Our beautiful dogs would have a ball walking the fells with us this September but with accommodation now almost exhausted for their two-legged friends I’m afraid we will have to leave them behind. Perhaps some of our volunteer mountain guides can bring their dogs along to make us feel less homesick.

But exactly what is Ruby’s coat saying. It’s red for MS Research Australia so that’s a start and Denise is all for Freedom from something.

I think I can see a Kiss and Eli is trying to work it out too.

Ah, yes. “Kiss Goodbye to MS” and Eli what exactly are you doing? Well I think he’s on the trail for finding a cure. I hope you are too. Please support us by clicking this link as we continue our training in preparation for our big walk in September.  Thank you for your support.

 

 

 

 

To Compeed or not to Compeed

That is the question. Well, with this cloud looming there was no doubt we needed them. Thanks to Johnson and Johnson Pacific Australia the key walkers now have a stack of these magic blister plasters to use and our first official training walk was as good a time as any to try them out.  Thank you to our sponsors for their generous support.

The other gear worth testing were our backpacks and waterproof gear. A wee bit sticky on the inside due to the high humidity but the waterproofs did work and the backpacks, despite my complaining, worked well too. I love the attached waterproof backpack covers though inner liners and garbage bags work just as well.  And the Osprey Manta Hydration Packs have a neat little magnet on the sternum chest strap which secures the drink nozzle so it doesn’t flap around.  Merran’s Helly Hansen rain jacket was the most divine red in keeping with the Kiss Goodbye to MS theme to wear red, share with others and dare others to join you. At least we all made an attempt to Kiss Goodbye to MS and as the photos show there are hints of red on most of us.

Most of us had a go at wearing our new hiking boots  – some no more than 15 hours old and I have to say they are a bit of overkill for walking on roads which we did for  the majority of this majestic coastal walk from Mona Vale to Palm Beach and return. Look at this wonderful piece of headland known as Bangalley Head just south of Whale Beach.

So when we finally arrived at Palm Beach some had to admit the boots had got the better of them or they needed to get back to their young kids. As you can see from the photo above we all go at our own pace and we all participate in the training as best we can. To Deb and Liz who were unable to make this day we missed your company. What a wonderful bunch of girls they all are with such diverse skills and interesting backgrounds. We didn’t stop chatting about all our impending charity events to assist us raise $150,000 for research into a cure for MS.  And I suspect we won’t. It certainly helps pass the time and divert our attention from the arthritic pain that managed to cut in at the half way point.  5 of us managed to stoically make the return and cover a total of 31.22kms according to Denise’s GPS distance/elevation/everything-you-need- to-know Gizmo App.

For those wondering, this is about a 29km smile from Merran and Helen.

Well done, girls! It thrills me no end that you have embraced the cause to find a cure for MS and accompany me, my husband Mike, and Debbie, who all know too well about the challenges of living with MS. Fortunately I am only an observer of this debilitating disease but we are determined to bring purpose and meaning to the lives of people living with MS and raise vital funds for research into finding the cause of, and ultimately a cure for, MS. Research is slow but advances are being made and therapies are improving all the time. I have no doubt we are heading in the right direction.

From (L to R) Merran, Katrina, Tansey, Helen, Jackie, Bron, Sally and Denise thank you for your support. 12 days with sore feet and arthritic limbs may be painful for us but it is not a patch on what people with MS suffer every day.  We are determined to make a difference and hope you will give generously to our individual fundraising pages or team page. Please click here to donate now.

 

We have ourselves an event

Our girls from the bush, Bron Dowling and Jackie Christopherson are staging a wonderful musical afternoon in Orange to kick start our extra fundraising initiatives in between training for the big event.

Orange, the gourmet food capital of the central west, is renowned for its stone fruits, agriculture and mining. Oranges are not grown here because the climate is too cool. Rather it gets it name from the Prince William of Orange who Major Thomas Mitchell named the town after in 1846. But these aficionados of life know how to show us city slickers one mighty good time.

Get your bush dancing shoes on and come and enjoy the delights of good food, fine wine and great company on a pleasant country afternoon.

Thank you to our wonderful hosts, Peter and Julie Mortimer, for offering your wonderful vineyard to stage the event. It wouldn’t be happening without you guys.

Thank you to Kate for assisting us produce this wonderful flyer.

Thank you to our fabulous line up of musicians, Into the Blue Jazz Quartet, Lynda Manwaring and November Shorn who have all donated their time to help with this.

And don’t forget the girls walking all-the-way across England. The majority of them will be there to meet you and discuss their motivation for undertaking this enormous fundraising challenge.  After the frivolity they’ll be up on the top of Mount Canobolas Sunday morning as they participate in the Great Volcanic Mountain Challenge as a great training walk.

So what are you waiting for.

Contact Bron or Jackie now and reserve your tickets for this wonderful event. Every dollar raised goes to Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia (MSRA)’s efforts to escalate research into finding the cause of, and ultimately a cure for MS.

A great excuse for a weekend away.