Bondi Beach Wheelchair Access Mat
Update
10 Aug 2018
Wooooooooooo Hoooooooooooooooooo!!!!
We did it! We made my $1000 target. A huge thanks to each and everyone of you. We still have 2 days to go - so who knows where it will land. That was seriously the most fun 2 hours, watching everyone's donations coming in. I am so excited. It has been a fantastic week. I have talked to potential users of the service and different organisations whose members will be able to utilise it too. There is a little way to go and many conversations to be had, but we are on a roll. Thank you so much - and will look forward to having a celebratory drink with you all at some time x
Update
09 Aug 2018
Hi All, Here is a great article on Shane from Accessible Beaches - published this week - on why access for everyone is so important. Thank you all so much for your support. xx
https://www.newcastlestar.com.au/story/5558477/beaches-should-be-easily-accessible-for-everyone-hryhorec/
Update
08 Aug 2018
I am so excited! I just spoke to Shane from Accessible Beaches. They are an organisation run by people with disabilities with an aim to give everyone access to our beautiful beaches. He is really excited that we are looking to bring this opportunity to Bondi Beach. He has been trying for several years to get this happening with the council and they haven't been able to supply the manpower to make it happen. As a wheel chair user he is stuck on the concrete watching his friends and family enjoy the beach. The surf club are committed to being able to support this equipment and roll out the mats and wheelchairs to give access. The fundraising that we are doing will make such a difference to him and his friends. Please take 2 minutes to watch this video they made about the benefits of making our beaches accessible to all!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6nmvmJf-3M
Update
28 Jul 2018
I got really excited about funding a wheelchair mat at Bondi and set myself a fast training plan knowing I had a weekend dance camp and a company conference in the 4 week plan but I was confident I could train around them. I didn't plan for all these little hurdles!!. Each one has been a powerful reminder of how lucky I am with my health.. Last week I fell at work, landing on my knee on the sharp point of a stair. Swollen and bruised, that stopped me running for a few days. Then I went to a zouk dance camp with 10 hours dancing a day. There was no way I was able to run on top of that. Then this week I got floored with gastro - 2 full days in bed with no food. That is almost 2 weeks of my very short training time period wiped out.
I had to decide whether I was going to be fit to meet a friend in the park for a run this morning. One meal in 3 days under my belt and muesli bar for breakfast. Not really the best prep for my longest run this year. But I felt ok and wasn't dehydrated and I have committed to this, so even if I walk my planned 12ks, it had to be. #Neverbailonatrainingbuddy!
We ran the first 6ks together, at a pace a little faster than I should have, so I had blown up by the time she headed off. That is when I ended up in the hurt locker (I know at 6ks!!!) and challenged myself - "do I continue? Do I cancel and run again tomorrow? Do I use this like a practice race and practice running when I have gone too fast at the start on race day? Must remember to Negative Split! Or do I practice on tired legs, cause that is ok? I have no fuel in my body, it is ok to give up. This is stupid. You've been sick."
Then the old Ironman training kicked in. - "Just one foot after the next. Keep it moving. Walk through the water stations (aka park bubblers), Shut up legs, **Singing**...Keep on running." Then my old running mantra popped into my head - where I tell my legs - "I love you, I am sorry, Please forgive me. Thank you." It is an Hawaiian meditation that I started using as a joke at first. When your legs are so tired and you don't know how you are going to carry on, try telling them - I love you legs, I am really sorry for putting you through this. Please forgive and thank you for keeping on going. Then repeat with the beat of your legs. It has helped me through so many races and definitely helped me through my last 6ks and to finish on a hill. 12ks completed! 2 weeks until race time.
The picture attached is some graffiti from Byron Bay - I loved it - where else would you get spiritual graffiti???
I will not be running this race to get my fastest time. I am hoping that I might save my place in the under 90 min category but that is going to be a push. What I am running this race for is to help people with disabilities get better access to Bondi Beach. Please support me. If you live in, or visit Bondi you will see the results of your investment in this piece of equipment year on year. Every $ counts - no matter how small - will be greatly appreciated.
I love you. I am sorry. Please forgive me. THANK YOU!
DONATIONS36
Millie Bensoussan
Sat, 18 Aug 2018
$ 5
You’re amazing Lee, this is a fabulous thing to do! Xx
You’re amazing Lee, this is a fabulous thing to do! Xx
$ 5
Dorota Maj
Sat, 11 Aug 2018
$ 15
Great initiative Lee! Have an awesome run x
Great initiative Lee! Have an awesome run x
$ 15
Wendy Arnold
Fri, 10 Aug 2018
$ 20
Thank you for helping people in chairs get access to the beach xxx
Thank you for helping people in chairs get access to the beach xxx
$ 20
Vanessa Zoukessa
Fri, 10 Aug 2018
$ 20
Go Lee! All for worthy cause xo
Go Lee! All for worthy cause xo
$ 20
Stealthy
Fri, 10 Aug 2018
$ 40
Love your work Lee, you're an inspiration!
Love your work Lee, you're an inspiration!
$ 40