Newsletter Two 2014 - Brain Injured Children Trust

OUR VISION
To Inspire Brain Injured Children And Their Families
Living In Our Community
ACHIEVE * RESULTS * LIFE * DREAMS
Issue Two
2014
Inside this issue:
Chairman’s Message
2
Sponsor Link
2
Ford V Holden
3
Office Hours
3
Paying It Forward
4-5
Go Alyssa & Dad
6
Birthdays
7
Trust Message
7
Donations
7
Contact Details
7
Page 2
CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE
Welcome to our final newsletter for 2014.
With all our ongoing changes and growth, we still continued to deliver the results that
our families deserve.
We also have gained a few new families to the Trust for 2014, welcome.
The Trusts web site is still a great place for information and with the introduction of
our Facebook page, this is another modern medium for our families to communicate
with Trust, Trustees and other families within the group. Shirley has been out and
about visiting families for growth and retention, as well as networking with new
agencies.
I would like to thank our trustees, new committee member and office administrator for
their support, hard work, time and commitment in supporting lovely families
deserving rewards. Supporting families committed to the Neuro-Developmental
Therapy through the Ian Hunter programme is among many of the paths we allocate
funds to support our members continued growth.
To our Funders and Sponsors, your continued support enables us to achieve our goals.
We thank you very much and hope you all will enjoy being part of The Brain Injured
Children Trust for many years to come. Excellent stuff.
Regards
NEWSFLASH....
Murray Lipinski
Chairman
Check out our major Sponsor’s
Website.......
http://www.thegoingbananasshow.co.nz/
Page 3
v
Toby Lipinski with Greg Murphy at school. They are smiling because
Toby said “it‟s a shame you like Holdens cos I love Fords”.
Christmas Office Hours
CLOSED: THURSDAY 18TH DECEMBER 2014
RE-OPENING: TUESDAY 13TH JANUARY 2015
Page 4
PAYING IT FORWARD
Our eldest member Mark Wilson has been supported by this trust for a number
of years, now he is paying it forward with his involvement in another
fundraising organisation, Variety Bash.
From Gold Heart Scholarship to Gold Heart Basher
My name is Mark Wilson, I was born with Cerebral Palsy, and my parents were
told that I would never walk or talk.
I had difficulty since a young age to be able to do everyday tasks, sports and
to participate in mainstream activities.
At the age of 13 months, I started an intense therapy program. I found that I
could do more every day and eventually I could walk and talk by the age of
six years old.
My struggles did not stop there, once I got to the age where I realised that I was
different I found it really hard to fit in with my peers. My perceptions changed
in how I saw myself. I had low self-confidence and was always
cautious of what people thought of me so I wouldn‟t take part in activities that I
usually would have. I found it the hardest at College stage and that is when I
started to play competitive sport. I competed for Paralympics New Zealand
overseas where I represented New Zealand in athletics and table tennis. This
experience made me feel more accepted as being around other people with
disabilities, there was no judgement and all of us had similar circumstances.
We‟re all seen as individuals and not as our disability. I learnt a lot from going
on these trips as I learnt more about myself and how to overcome
challenges in my life.
Page 5
This all came at a cost and I could not have been a part of these
experiences without the support of Variety. I was a recipient of the Gold
Heart scholarship, which helped with the finances of the travel.
The biggest thing I got out of the scholarship was my mentor Mark
Hellyer who opened up new doors in life and was always there when I
needed support or advice. Mark was dedicated to helping me achieve my
goals, even if it meant sacrificing his own valuable time and resources.
When I was looking at career pathways for when I was finished with
school, I ended up choosing a four year Business Management Degree in
2013, this meant that I would not be able to continue competing in table
tennis. Due to this decision I was of the understanding that the support
from Variety also had to stop. The opposite happened, as Mark continued
to support me by keeping me involved in Variety through the Variety
Bash, which is a car rally that
travels long distances fundraising for Kiwi kids, distributing grants,
entertaining children and telling the Variety story.
I feel privileged to be a part of the Bash as there is no greater feeling than
helping to make a difference in the lives of Kiwi kids. Not only that but
being part of the Bash family has helped me gain more confidence, as they
accept me for who I am and involve me in everything they do. I can be
myself and feel comfortable around fellow Bashers. This is just as
valuable as the financial support I received when I was competing
overseas.
During the Bash events I‟ve been
exposed to new experiences that I
would never have thought I would
be involved in. These
experiences have helped me grow as
a person through
self-confidence and
motivation gained from being a part
of such great events.
I am extremely thankful to Variety
for continuing to
support me. Being part of such a
great organisation brings me great
joy and
awesome memories I will treasure for the rest of my life.
Page 6
BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS
„Go Alyssa, go!” shouted a wind swept Pop. Pedalling along the tar sealed road, blood
was rushing through my veins. In the school holidays Mum, Dad and I threw ourselves
off the deep end, and entered as a team in the round the mountain relay. “Whose bright
idea was that!” Dawn broke, crisp air chilled my face, turning stomach fluttering with
fear. We hustled into position to the start line. The sharp pitch of the start hooter very
nearly blasted me into space, “lucky I was strapped in my tandem bike”. Opunake was
now in the distance, we trudged on towards Kaponga. Dad was huffing and puffing down
my neck, while I was more worried about,” is my hair ok”, waving like the queen. Support vehicles littered the road ahead, weaving through the endless maze. At last a familiar
silver van pulls in beside us, it‟s Mum! Dad downed a cold drink mum hurled out the van
window. That drink went down so fast, I wasn‟t sure if it even touched the sides.
Admiring the country side, I could seize this moment of our beautiful country. I could feel
Dads pain with every turn of the pedals. Kaponga was now in our sights, a sudden burst
of adrenalin rushed through our veins. I could feel my body being pushed hard back into
my seat. As we rocketed through the finish we were blinded by the paparazzi. Tears of joy
flowed down Dads reddened cheeks, “we made it”. I felt 10 foot tall and bomb proof, the
feeling of accomplishment over whelmed me.
Alyssa McCarty
Page 7
TO ALL MEMBERS WHO
HAVE
CELEBRATED THIS TERM
Isaac Merrie
REGARDS
MURRAY, SHIRLEY, BRENDA, SHONA,
DEBBIE & LYNDA
June 5
Kimberly Fletcher
June 7
Mark Wilson
June 18
Flora Gorton
July 19
Ezra Partridge-Davies July 28
Alessio Di Giandomenico
Elijah Barnard
August 3
October 4
Alyssa McCarty October 10
Amanda Cruickshank October 12
Reece Melville
October 21
Katie Wilson
November 8
Xanthe Irving-Mann
November 9
Byron Andrews November 25
Kaleb Carter
Eli Scott
December 1
December15
Toby Lipinski
WE WISH YOU ALL A RELAXING, ENJOYABLE AND SAFE HOLIDAY SEASON.
December 18
DONATIONS
You can call at any
Westpac Bank Branch
and make a donation into
Brain Injured Children Trust
Account number031549 0132566 00
or post it to the Trust.
All donations $5.00 and over are
tax deductible.
CONTACT DETAILS:
Chadwick House
250 Chadwick Road
Greerton
TAURANGA 3112
Telephone: 07-5789694
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
www.braininjuredchildrentrust.co.nz