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Catherine Lander

Sun Up Challenge 2021

Help me raise funds to support families facing childhood cancer.

Raised

$782

My Goal

$650

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My Activity Tracking

88
kms

My target 100 kms

Support my Sun Up Challenge for families of children with cancer.

My bed is my happy place. I've never enjoyed the waking up process and transition from sleeping to wakefulness. 

But while I'm staring at the back of my eyelids, there are families around the country who have barely slept because of their child's cancer.

Cancer puts families under enormous pressure. That’s why I’m setting my alarm for Redkite's Sun Up Challenge – to raise money which will provide emotional and practical support to families facing childhood cancer.

Asha, my beautiful rescue greyhound, and I will be taking a morning work at sun up every day this September. It's the least I can do to make sure families don’t have to face their child’s cancer diagnosis alone.

Please support me by making a tax-deductible donation to my challenge. Your generosity will make sure that Redkite can provide even more families facing childhood cancer practical and emotional support and care.

My Achievements

I've uploaded a profile pic

I've shared my page

I made a self donation

I joined a team

Logged my first activity

Reached 50% of my fitness goal

Reached 100% of my fitness goal

Reached 100% of my fundraising goal

My Updates

Week three... go me!

Tuesday 14th Sep
Week three started with a wobble. I had an upset stomach and the prospect of leaving the house while my guts were churning was not something I was prepared to contemplate.

So the sun-up walk became the sun-down walk. I did what I could, when I could.

I was back out with the early birds on Tuesday. I didn't feel guilty for missing a day; I felt pleased to have picked up where I'd left off. I'm an expert at yelling at myself, but this challenge is showing me that it doesn't matter when you do something. What matters is you do it. Just show up and do what you can, when you can.

So I'm still showing up, still sharing my silly updates and still grateful for the support all my lovely friends have shown me over the first two weeks of September.

Three for three

Friday 3rd Sep
Look at me go! Awake when I would normally be snoring! 

As I was groggily trying to find my sneakers this morning and desperately wishing I could have more sleep, I felt like had no choice. I'd committed to doing the challenge and all my sponsors were expecting me to deliver on my promise. 

But, I did have a choice. I could have broken that promise. I could slept in and said I'd done my dawn stroll. 

Parents who have a child with cancer don't have that choice. They have to get up, no matter how little sleep they've had. They have no option but to turn up for their child's illness whenever and whatever that looks like. They're put through levels of sleep deprivation, discomfort and distress I can only begin to imagine. 

I'm doing this challenge because I can choose not to. Because I can roll over and go back to sleep is exactly why I'm getting out of bed in the dark and taking the dog for a walk at dawn. I'm choosing to show up because when you have a kid with cancer, you have no choice.

My genuine thanks to everyone who has shown up for families facing their child' cancer through their donation. You're making a difference and that's worth me getting out of bed for.

The day before the big day

Tuesday 31st Aug
Asha didn't know what happened this morning. I got her out of bed and we went for a walk just as the sun started to appear in the sky. 

I hope to continue the way I began: with a sense of optimism about the day ahead, a pointy companion whose needs are simple and a strong coffee when I get home.

Thank you to my Sponsors

$125.28

David Parry

Keep up the good work

$125.28

Pam Macdonald

Glad to know good people like you who are so caring and supportive of others. You are rocking this challenge! Best from Pete and me

$52.20

Neo Aplin

Go Catherine and Asha! Great cause to brave the cold.

$52.20

Dymphna Mcquay

Enjoy the walks! Dee x

$52.20

Craig Taplin

$50

Ahona G

Sending you this for my friend, Mandy, and her daughter who had (and is now in remission from) childhood cancer.

$50

Clare Sullivan

Great cause.

$41.76

Sarah, Gabriel & Ethan

Great job 👏

$41.76

@dinkydoodat

We're not morning people either so we are very impressed with your dedication! Well done - so very, very nearly there.

$26.10

Catherine Lander

$26.10

Kalliopi Vakras

Good work Asha & Catherine Kisses from Dennis and family x

$25

Adri

Great cause Catherine! Have loved your daily walking blog 💓

$20.88

Kara Timion

$20.88

Tracy Baulman

Congratulations, great work

$20.88

Lyn Wagner

Happy to support you & this great cause, Catherine.

$20.88

Anonymous

$20

Michael Chapman

Hi Catherine, Just made a donation from Michelle, Kora, Baby Jack and myself. x Hope you are doing well!

$10.44

Leon Hartman