Alec Runs 42.195kms To Help Give Deaf Children A Voice

On September 22^nd I'm tackling the Blackmores Sydney Running Festival’s 42.195km Full Marathon in an effort to raise much-needed funds for The Shepherd Centre. The Shepherd Centre is a charity that has assisted close to 2,000 children who are deaf or hearing-impaired, to improve their quality of life. The organisation is recognised as a world leader in the field of early intervention Auditory-Verbal Therapy. It provides families with assistance to develop their child’s spoken language, so they can reach their full potential and be a fully contributing member of the community. See more at: http://www.shepherdcentre.org.au/about-us/

The Shepherd Centre is very close to my heart, as one of these children they've helped is my cousin Hamish. Hamish was born in 2000 and diagnosed with severe-profound hearing loss at the age of 8 months. He attended The Shepherd Centre for 5 years. During his first year at school, he was implanted with a Cochlear device in his right ear, at which time he returned to The Shepherd Centre for habilitation.

While in Year 6 at Cranbrook in 2012, Hamish won the Softball and Art Prizes and he has been awarded Academic Excellence every year from 4-6. In 2012, he also won the Lambert Prize for Special Effort, which recognises a Year 6 boy who has made the most of his ability through outstanding and sustained effort. The cochlear implant has allowed him to hear quite well in his right ear, which is supported by the hearing aid in his left ear. Thanks to The Shepherd Centre, Hamish has developed a good appreciation of music and was able to sing in the school choir every year at Junior School. He has also learned to play the viola. He was awarded the Music Prize in 2009. Hamish was asked to join the Senior School orchestra in Year 4, despite being in Junior School, and has performed with the school at various functions. He was part of the Tournament of Minds team in Year 6, the first Cranbrook team to win the tournament.

I realise there are people out there attempting far more impressive feats than this in order to raise money, but I’d really appreciate your support in this endeavour. 

Your donation will help to enable children who are deaf and hearing-impaired to develop spoken language so that they may fully participate in the world, and in doing so, reach their full potential. If you are unsure of how much to donate (as I often am), think 50c, $1, $2 etc. per km... 

Every dollar invested in early intervention services for deaf children produces almost two dollars’ worth of social, educational, vocational and economic benefits.

Thank you in anticipation of your generosity.