Lifeguards from Sutherland Shire, Randwick City and Waverley Councils recently visited the Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick to help raise the spirits of sick kids who are doing it tough in hospital.
Before the visit, they were met by their respective Mayors, Sutherland Shire Mayor Carmelo Pesce ,Waverley Mayor John Wakefield and Randwick City Council Mayor Kathy Neilson who congratulated them on once again organising such a worthy charity event, the 2019 Lifeguard Challenge, and wished them the best of luck for their fundraising efforts.
On Sunday 17 March, lifeguards from each council will take on the gruelling 30-kilometre fitness challenge from Bondi to Cronulla via Maroubra to raise funds for the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation .
Sutherland Shire Council Mayor, Carmelo Pesce said it is fantastic that the three Councils are coming together for such a great cause.
“Many families from across Sydney, including the Sutherland Shire, rely on The Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick when their children are seriously ill or injured,” he said.
“Last year the Lifeguard Challenge raised over $16,000 that purchased two new trauma beds for the Hospital’s Emergency Department and I encourage people to dig deep to help us raise even more this year.”
The course includes swimming, rescue paddle boarding, soft sand running and road running, in a true ‘Battle of the Beaches’.
The ultimate aim, in the lead up to the challenge and on the day, is to raise much-needed funds to help doctors and nurses tackle some of the most significant health issues facing children today, with this year’s funds going towards an Ambulatory EEG Monitor.
Clare Sayer, Acting Head of Community Fundraising at Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation said fundraising activities like the Lifeguard Challenge are critical to providing world-class care to more than 70,000 sick kids who come through the doors of Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick each year.
“The Hospital’s Neurology team urgently need an Ambulatory EEG Monitor to help with the assessment of children’s seizures,” she said.
“These monitors detect changes in brain wave patterns and can assist with diagnosing neurological conditions such as seizure disorders or epilepsy.
“It may also be used to help diagnose or treat sleep disorders, severe head injuries,inflammation of the brain, stroke or brain tumours.
“We are so grateful to the Lifeguards, who work hard to save lives every day and understand the need to provide the best paediatric medical care 24/7, for once again raising money to help Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick.”
Sutherland Shire lifeguard mascot ‘Sonny’ and the Sydney Children’s Hospital mascot ‘Sunny’ joined the Council Lifeguards to help cheer up the sick kids during the visit.
The challenge is set to take off from Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach at 6am on Sunday 17
March. The first leg of the course is a 2-kilometre board paddle to Bronte Beach.
1. Bondi Beach – Bronte Beach: Board Paddle 2km
2. Bronte Beach – Coogee Beach: Run 3.5km
3. Coogee Beach – Maroubra Beach: Board Paddle 4km
4. Maroubra Beach – Frenchman’s Beach: Run 6km
5. Frenchman’s Beach – Kurnell Beach: Board Paddle 2km
6. Kurnell Beach – Boat Harbour: Run 4km
7. Boat Harbour – North Cronulla: Sand Run 5km
8. North Cronulla – Cronulla: Swim .5km
On the day, people can watch the lifeguards put themselves to the test from vantage points along the course. At certain running points, lifeguards will be carrying donation tins for onlookers to donate.
To make a donation, visit our 2019 Lifeguard Challenge donation page;
#2019LifeGuardChallenge #GetOnBoard
