I’m no Bear Grylls
It’s 5.30am on a Sunday morning and I’m standing in my backyard dressed as Superman.
I drain my cuppa, do some YouTube stretches that do nothing to ease the ache in my legs and start walking. Again. I’ve been walking for weeks but this is the first time dressed as a superhero. I’m hoping to have the neighbourhood to myself before the locals emerge looking puzzled; why is that bloke dressed as Superman? That’s odd.
And it is odd. But I’ve made a commitment and as I’m quickly finding out, sometimes making the decision to do something is much easier than actually doing it.
A few years ago I was trying to shed my middle aged tummy tire (or at least keep it from spreading to the rest of my body), when I realised I’ve always wanted to do a long walk and raise money for sick kids. But there’s nothing interesting about a cookie cutter stroll (I’m no Bear Grylls) and I realised if I was going to make an impact, I had to step it up.
So I created the Superhero Walk and last year walked from Narrandera to Wagga Wagga dressed in unforgiving superhero lycra costumes (how do they make it look so good?) and raised over $3,000 for sick kids in the Riverina. This year, from 21-25 September, I’ve convinced friends and family to join me and walk from Sydney to Shellharbour (125km’s) and have committed to raising $10,000 for sick, disadvantaged and disabled kids in the Illawarra.
We’re fundraising for KidzWish; that rare type of superhero who for over 20 years have helped thousands of kids in the Illawarra. I was struck by their passion and sheer drive to make a difference. To just get on with it. Because without KidzWish, a whole community of kids wouldn’t have received specialist treatment and support. But there’s more to KidzWish. The clincher was when they told me they had $40,000 in appeals from the local community. Kids who need wheelchairs so they can get to school, kids who can’t afford their medications, everyday people, who through no fault of their own, are up against it.
I puff out my chest (mostly to hide the spare tyre), look to the horizon and stride out my front door. Dressed as Superman. A family appraises me nervously but smile when I hand them a flyer explaining how they can help by donating to the Superhero Walk. Because every single cent goes directly to granting a sick, disadvantaged or disabled child’s special wish.
And it will change their life forever. Please donate today.
The Superhero Walk
Helping kids 1 step at a time
