DONATION INFO for DAMIEN'S B'DAY CHARITY PROJECT

[shimmery]

Many thanks to all supporting the project and thanks for the great ideas regarding spreading out payments!

Neski also has a thread "Emailing David Champion ..." which outlines how we are planning the organisation of the auction items.

Thanks so much again to everyone!

[belinda]

Thanks so much Shimmery, and also to Monica, you're doing a fantastic job. I just want to say Shimmery I appreciate it so much and also Neski, with all the time, effort and thought you are putting into this. D will be over the moon.

Thanks too for all the great suggestions with payments.

You are gems!!!

Hugs,

Belinda

[Roxy]

hey shim this is a beautiful gesture, I'm so excited about this project. Just goes to show we really did choose the right person to win Australian Idol, D and Eils really do have a heart of gold. I will probably do my donation online, I'm used to doing that anyway with my credit card.

thank you shim for setting this all in motion.
xox.

[christyl]

Hi Guys.
Shim, you asked about my experience with SO? Well, some years ago four of the gentlemen living in the institution where I worked at the time were assisted to go to the SO in Tasmania, competing in the indoor soccer. All of us worked hard together for about 6 months before they went to raise the necessary funds to get them there. The guys going there was a significant event not just because it meant travelling such a long way, no one who lived there had ever done anything like that before, but because - for them -living in an institution, their lives were, on the whole, pretty crappy. (Anyone who has ever lived ior worked n an institution can tell you about them).
Anyway, there isn't just the event itself where the help is needed: we took turns weekly to take the guys to training and to other meets so they could get experience in competing. In a way, it was such a learning curve for us, because a couple of them in particular seemed to either "not get it", or stuff around. We really thought we were turning up there just for the experience and a good time. Anyway, when crunch time came, they shocked us by stepping up to the mark like they had NEVER done in any games before...and won a silver medal. Tears all round! One of the guys in particular refused to take his medal off at all for the next year or so (his support workers had to sneak it off him at night to wash the ribbon.. There were learnings there for all of us about never underestimating people...
Following that, I spent quite a few years working directly with people assisting them to individually integrate into community sporting and recreation events. Its only when we see the effect that doing this successfully can have in a life, do we realise just how much that life has been missing - as compared to yours and mine, for example...always a humbling experience.
I should not be surprised by this being the charity of choice for Eils and Damo - given their obviously caring natures -, but I'm still so thrilled. To be perfectly honest, one of the reasons why I am passionate about the work I do is that I believe people with an intellectual disability are amongst the most disadvantaged and marginalised in society, and need good advocates who in turn help them to advocate for themselves as much as possible. Participating in events like SO builds confidence, competence, and self esteem.
Other causes/disabilities seem much more attractive to the funding dollar (cerebral palsy, paraquads, etc)....so this is wonderful if for once we can raise the profile and the capacity of this organisation.

Don't get me wrong, I don't do this work because I feel sorry for people at all. Instead, I have learnt so much from those I have supported over the years: so much about courage, love, resilience, and persistence....and about laughter. Lots of laughter!
A few months ago I was chairing a selection panel for new support workers, and one of the successful applicants was a guy who was the manager of a packing warehouse. We were so impressed with his values that we hired him. Just yesterday I ran into him in the corridor, and asked him how he was going. He grabbed my hands, his face was glowing, and he said "Chris, I can't thank you enough. I LOVE this work...aren't the clients just so amazing?"

Indeed they are!~

So guys, I thank you too for giving your support for this. big *HUGGS* to all of you for your kind hearts.

*Chris, putting her soapbox away again now*

[shimmery]

Thanks to you all for continuing to support the idea!

Oh Chris, it's so great to have you perspective from actually volunteering with the SO and explaining it in much more detail for us all! Your post is truly inspiring, many thanks for all you do and for all the volunteers here on the board who have mentioned other caused they contribute to.

[houndsoflove]

Makes me proud to be a member of these forums with such lovely, beautiful members....i'm gonna cry now.

[Megan]

shimmery said:

Megan, at the Special Olympics website there is an online donation capability which an overseas person would be able to use. This option does not seem to have a comments form with it though for people to be able to add that they have donated on behalf of the Damien Leith Birthday Project so perhaps if they use that online facility, they could send a follow up email to Monica Smith [e-mail] to let SO know that they'd like to have their donation added to the tally for the project.

Thanks for that, shimmery! I'll make my donation via the site in the next few days and send Monica S. the email following it.

[shimmery]

Thanks so much Megan and Houndsy!

I'm so proud of the forum too, and how everyone is getting behind the idea!

Eils has kindly relayed this info within the first day!:

"Got a call from SO and they are so over the moon about donations coming in from the Damienites, they are really floored"

Well done everyone!!! Let's keep the momentum going

[crushangel]

Thanks for all your work organising this and for all the info.
It's a brilliant idea.
Ange xo

[christyl]

shimmery said:

Thanks so much Megan and Houndsy!

I'm so proud of the forum too, and how everyone is getting behind the idea!

Eils has kindly relayed this info within the first day!:

"Got a call from SO and they are so over the moon about donations coming in from the Damienites, they are really floored"

Well done everyone!!! Let's keep the momentum going

ohhhh...luverly!

Shim, do you think there is anyway that Monica/SO would be so kind as to give us a weekly update on the total? We could post it in the "sealed" thread, so it was still a surprise...but it would be soooo cool to see it growing..??

[shimmery]

Thankyou Ange!

Chris on the front page of this thread in the first post I've got a section called "Tally" where the dates and amounts of the tally updates will be posted Monica is very excited to let us know the tally as it goes

[shimmery]

Maybe we should keep it here rather than seal it so more will see it and be motivated - we just have to hope that certain big *green* peeping eyes will stay out

[belinda]

That's fantastic that there is a tally and that Eils got that lovely phone call. I'm so excited about this birthday project. It's nice to know that in some way I can help make a difference. D's going to love this pressie.

[dededom]

I made a donation today before heading off to lunch at Cafe Sydney - what a great view!

[shimmery]

I'm excited too Belinda really looking forward to hearing the updates from Monica!

That's great Dede And isn't the view wonderful from Cafe Sydney! By the way I also checked out Silks after your recommendation in the Sunrise thread, looks great