I competed in the “Balmoral Burn” on Sunday  with my school team to help raise money for the Humpty Dumpty foundation that provides funds to help very sick children. Humpty’s vision is to ensure that hospitals and health service centres across Australia have the right medical equipment they need to save the lives of sick and injured children.

Sophie Delezio is an example of why we need a foundation like this to help the young kids. We all missed Sophie today, as her choir audition clashed with the  fundraiser, I hope she she blitzes the audition. It would be fantastic to see Sophie achieving more goals. Sophie is an inspiration, she is only young and has gone through so much, you all know her story, unless you have been living on Mars. Her parents have been doing wonderful things in the fundraiser stakes and her brother Mitchell is a fabulous big brother, let’s not forget what he has been coping with, seeing his little sister deal with all her medical traumas. Phil Kearns, the former Wallaby, started this fundraiser after his son was diagnosed with menningicoccal disease, fortunately he is OK now.

We competed in the team relay section of the Balmoral Burn race, representing my school, St Vincent’s College Potts Point, a sister of charity school very involved in Social Justice and  fundraisers to help our community and those in need. Our team came in 6th overall, a brilliant effort, each team member, Emily Rohr, Grace Strawbridge & Annalese McAuley were outstanding and gave it their very best. It’s this attitude that I love and respect, it makes me so happy. We had great fun (kind of) recovering from the gruelling 420m run up Awaba Street. The run begins with lots of enthusiasm, once past the 300m mark your thigh muscles start to feel hot and begin to burn, then 70m out of the finishing line your legs are on fire and I mean on fire! It’s at that defining moment you make a decision, either stop and walk away still with dignity in tact, stop, walk a little then get back to running or have the determination to persevere through the pain threshold to gain a finish without stopping. No matter how you get there, it’s such an achievement, all this pain to help our sick kids in the community is worth it. Of course it’s a great feeling to win and those schools and individuals who did, like Pymble Ladies College, as an example, always demonstrate great sportsmanship which is so important. It doesn’t matter who wins, it is how you play the game.  Jessica Drummer came 2nd in the under 18 age group and Miranda Middletonwon the under 18 female age group. Another brilliant athlete Frances Schmidt won the elite invitational race, all representing Pymble Ladies College.  I’m so happy to compete and for my school Vinnies to make the top 10, sensational.

Finally, congratulations to all school, individuals, and everyone who competed, you are all awesome! See you next year!

Georgia McGrath

Jnr Writer

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