Every step helps African children
Article from Sunshine Coast Daily - Sat 28 Feb 2009
SUNSHINE Coast sports medicine specialist doctor June Canavan is on a mission to clock up thousands of "Ks" this year, all for a good cause.
Dr Canavan will climb four mountains and walk the Kokoda Track by October to raise money for a school in Tanzania that provides free education to more than 1000 African children.
She launched her campaign last weekend with a symbolic walk up Kiel Mountain, where she lives, and will tackle Mount Kosciusko - twice - this weekend using two different tracks. She is then scheduled to climb Malaysia's highest peak, Mount Kinabalu, in May, the Kokoda Track in July, and Mount Kilimanjaro in September-October.
She hopes to raise $1 for every foot she covers in completing the five Ks, which would tally $47,650, an amount she plans to top up herself to make an even $50,000.
Dr Canavan's challenge was inspired by a chance conversation that took place at a party to celebrate the life of a country woman who had fought a brave battle with cancer.
"At the party, one of the people I was talking to told me about this other wonderful country girl, Gemma Sisia, who started a school in Tanzania," she said.
Gemma Sisia is an Australian woman, who wanted to be a nun but fell in love with an African man and upon marrying him, was given a plot of land by her father-in-law upon which she began a school supported by fundraising in her home town, Armidale.
Dr Canavan said the global financial crisis had cost the school about 25% of its sponsors which, combined with other hardships, had put a huge strain on its operations.
She was so moved by the story that she extended the plans she already had to climb Mount Kilimanjaro into a five K assault to help the school.
Dr Canavan, in her 50s, underwent heart surgery four years ago for a congenital condition discovered while mountaineering in tagonia in 2004. She said she hoped her K campaign would convince others recovering from heart surgery that they could still be physically active.
"Even if you've had open heart surgery, you can be fitter than you've ever been if you train properly," she said.
"I feel better than I've ever felt, even though I've been fit all my life," she said.
Dr Canavan, who has always enjoyed sport but disliked training, said getting in shape for her mountain campaign was easier because the school had given her purpose.
Local artist Mandy Shadforth has donated a painting towards the cause, which will be raffled amongst those who make donations of $10 or more.
Details of Dr Canavan’s campaign and how you can donate can be found at www.klockinguptheks.com.au
Every step helps African children
Article from Sunshine Coast Daily - Sat 28 Feb 2009
SUNSHINE Coast sports medicine specialist doctor June Canavan is on a mission to clock up thousands of "Ks" this year, all for a good cause.
Dr Canavan will climb four mountains and walk the Kokoda Track by October to raise money for a school in Tanzania that provides free education to more than 1000 African children.
She launched her campaign last weekend with a symbolic walk up Kiel Mountain, where she lives, and will tackle Mount Kosciusko - twice - this weekend using two different tracks. She is then scheduled to climb Malaysia's highest peak, Mount Kinabalu, in May, the Kokoda Track in July, and Mount Kilimanjaro in September-October.
She hopes to raise $1 for every foot she covers in completing the five Ks, which would tally $47,650, an amount she plans to top up herself to make an even $50,000.
Dr Canavan's challenge was inspired by a chance conversation that took place at a party to celebrate the life of a country woman who had fought a brave battle with cancer.
"At the party, one of the people I was talking to told me about this other wonderful country girl, Gemma Sisia, who started a school in Tanzania," she said.
Gemma Sisia is an Australian woman, who wanted to be a nun but fell in love with an African man and upon marrying him, was given a plot of land by her father-in-law upon which she began a school supported by fundraising in her home town, Armidale.
Dr Canavan said the global financial crisis had cost the school about 25% of its sponsors which, combined with other hardships, had put a huge strain on its operations.
She was so moved by the story that she extended the plans she already had to climb Mount Kilimanjaro into a five K assault to help the school.
Dr Canavan, in her 50s, underwent heart surgery four years ago for a congenital condition discovered while mountaineering in tagonia in 2004. She said she hoped her K campaign would convince others recovering from heart surgery that they could still be physically active.
"Even if you've had open heart surgery, you can be fitter than you've ever been if you train properly," she said.
"I feel better than I've ever felt, even though I've been fit all my life," she said.
Dr Canavan, who has always enjoyed sport but disliked training, said getting in shape for her mountain campaign was easier because the school had given her purpose.
Local artist Mandy Shadforth has donated a painting towards the cause, which will be raffled amongst those who make donations of $10 or more.
Details of Dr Canavan’s campaign and how you can donate can be found at www.klockinguptheks.com.au