Fundraising

Life is full of twists and turns, mostly when you're not prepared; definitely when you're not looking!  I thought long and hard about my fundraising efforts in my not so short life.  I have flashbacks of myself as a young woman standing on a street corner rattling a tin for the Asthma Foundation.  Both kids suffered ongoing asthma from a very young age.  Melanie was in Princess Margaret Children's Hospital over forty times until she was twelve, twice in ICU.  I know I rattled that tin at least once, I am not so sure about the following year.

I have cooked umpteen cup-cakes for school fetes and manned the stalls with passionate vigour! I have been involved in car washes for church fundraising, more cake stalls, quiz nights, movie nights and the list goes on.

In 2007 I joined an inspired group of walkers at my work.  We completed the 12kms City to Surf fundraiser at the end of August to raise funds for ACTIV.  Was this the beginning of my passion for walking?

I joined a local Lions Club in 2009 and became involved in fundraising once again.  Fortunately a lot of their fundraising came from a weekly flea market (mainly second hand goods) but there was always something to get excited about.

The not for profit organisation I worked for in the last few years held a few fundraisers.  The Easter Fair at the local river park was the biggest.  I encouraged volunteers to fill shifts, writing their names on my roster sheet.  They willingly filled countless balloons with helium, sold handmade crafts and advertised our role in the local community.  It was fun on the day but a lot of hard work beforehand.  The end result made all the preparation worth-while.

Next year I am on a fundraiser of a lifetime.  I am not doing it alone.  Big sister and possibly little sister and I are walking across England (yes, not a typing mistake) from west to east.  Next July we are booked to complete the Wainwright Walk, a staggering 304km walk through the beautiful Lake District, over rugged mountainous hills to the Yorkshire Moors and finally to Robin Hood Bay on the east coast. 

Big sister says she has longed to complete the walk for a few years and decided to make it so much more by fundraising for Huntington's WA.  After hearing her plan, I quipped, "Can I come too?" 

The stage was set, the preparation wheel is turning.  The training has begun!
Today with a slight patter of rain we began our first training walk in Whiteman's Park, a large park reserve in Perth's northern suburbs. 

Big sister had her map ready; we had our hiking gear and poles at the correct height.  Off we went but no matter how many times we consulted our printed map we ended up going the wrong way!  We laughed hysterically as we realised we were just going around in circles!  After walking for two hours we headed back to the car park.

Big sister and I are both very grateful we have booked a guided walk next year.  Otherwise we shudder at the thought of where we could end up!

Our first hike together

 

The Promise

A marriage proposal is a promise between two. 

A few weeks ago Dustin proposed to his girlfriend Grace and she was happy to accept.  Last week they held a lunch at a local restaurant to celebrate their commitment.  It had me thinking about what love means today.  No one bats an eyelid when a couple announce they are going to move in together.  Many stay together for years, sometimes forever without taking it further.
 
On the other hand when a marriage proposal is offered and accepted the world becomes a crazy place.  Whether the planned wedding is large and expensive or small and homely there are ongoing plans and decisions to be made.
A down to earth couple suddenly becomes engrossed in everything white, romantic and grossly overpriced! 

My memory takes a sideways slant as I relive our time in Beijing in 2009.   A young Chinese couple were photographed in the Hutong area in full western bridal attire.  I asked our guide where they would have married.  In a temple, a church or a garden setting?   He replied they would be getting married in a few days, it is their tradition to have their photos taken beforehand!  An interesting twist to a western tradition. 

Merv and I will be celebrating our 38th anniversary later this year.  Our wedding was small and personable.  I hired my wedding dress to reduce costs.  There is nothing I regret. Even our not so glamorous honeymoon.  We travelled to the south west staying in cheap hotels and finished in a two man tent for a night.  Merv began wheezing due to the cold night air and we spent most of the night sitting in the car.  Fortunately his asthma disappeared a few years later!

My nephew is soon to marry his bride in a 'pop -up' wedding.  A glammed up registry office wedding at a fraction of the cost of many weddings.  I like the idea.  It provides a beautifully memorable ceremony which allow the couple to put their hard earned money to life's necessities. My two sisters and I are flying interstate to attend.  Pop up weddings are new to Australia and we are excited to witness our nephew's wedding.  Will the pop up just be a fad?  Time will tell.  Marriage itself will never be a fad.  It is here to stay, to enjoy and to remember.