Running from Rockhampton to Brisbane to raise money

One of BrizBrain & Spine's patients, Garry Lawton, is embarking on a fundraising run from Rockhampton to Brisbane to raise money for the BrizBrain & Spine Research Foundation.

Beginning on 9 May, Garry will be running through various towns to collect money for brain tumour research and raise awareness for the foundation. Pictured below is Garry's car which has been branded to further promote the event. For more information please click here.

Garry's Media Exposure

Newsmail 

Garry's Week One update:

The first week has gone well with $4,204.93 raised so far. The stand looks fantastic when it is all set-up and many people are stopping to read the stories from people Garry has met over the years through brain tumour support groups and Camp Quality.

 After losing his driver only 10 days before the start of the run from Rockhampton it was starting to look like Garry would be driving the car and running as well but luckily Scott (another member of the Bundaberg Brain Tumour Support Group) was able to go on the trip with him!

The first day of running south from Rockhampton was an extremely hot day and Garry managed to run 50kms. Luckily he had a few days in Gladstone to rest while fundraising there. We waved goodbye to the boys again this past Sunday when they left on the next leg to Childers. Quite a few people dropped into the stand in Childers to tell them they had seen Garry running and more money was donated in Childers in one day than Rockhampton and Gladstone together in four days so that is a fantastic result!

Please keep checking the website for further updates.

Garry's Week Two Update:

Garry has continued running through Hervey Bay, Maryborough, Tiaro and Gympie. The total raised to date is $5,435.15 which is a fantastic achievement.

Hervey Bay SES assisted with driving for the Hervey Bay to Maryborough leg which meant Garry only had to run forwards on that section, instead of running backwards and forwards! One Mile School in Gympie held an Orange Day where all the students dressed in orange and had their thumbs painted. This raised an amazing $240 in one day from the students - thanks to Vicki for organising this event.

Garry and Scott have met a lot of interesting people along the way including some Canadian backpackers who donated $25 and also a bus of rugby union old boys in Tiaro on their way back from playing in Hervey Bay who donated $70.

Garry will be running the final leg into Brisbane on Tuesday 1 June and is due to arrive at the BrizBrain & Spine office at the Wesley Hospital 2pm. 

There is still money being collected in Bundaberg and Childers so we will be letting you know the final amount raised after Garry has returned to Bundaberg next week and all the money tins have been collected and counted.

Garry's Final Update:

When leaving Gympie, Sunrise Weather man Grant Denyer happened to be filming.  Garry had a chat to Grant Denyer about the run, but unfortunately Garry was ten minutes late or he would have been on the show.

Next stop was Pomona, 35 kms away with Dave stopping every ten kilometers depending on the condition of the edge of the roads. The run through the hills towards Nambour was enjoyable and Garry was in Eumundi and had run 10 kms before he realised it. Garry nearly lost his driver and car in Nambour when they took different roads in to town.

On the way from Caboolture to Aspley, Garry and Jim had an interesting  coffee stop in Burpengary . They found Gloria Jeans, had a coffee and met the owner of Gloria Jeans, a lovely lady who donated $50 to the cause. The second last day was only about a 16km run from Aspley  to Roma Street station.

The last day and final run was from Roma Street along Coronation Drive on Tuesday 1 June. To celebrate the finish, BrizBrain & Spine held an afternoon tea.

A total of $6362 has been donated so far with donations still coming in and a final footy fundraiser to be held in Bundy on the 3^rd of July.

Thanks to all the people who made donations, helped out at the shopping centre displays and assisted Garry with accommodation along the way.

Brain Tumour Awareness Walk 2009

The BrizBrain & Spine Research Foundation held our inaugural Brain Tumour Awareness Walk to raise vital funds and launch International Brain Tumour Awareness Week on 1 November 2009. Over 250 participants in bright orange shirts walked 4km throughout New Farm to raise a total of $6,792 for our foundation. If you are interested in being added to the 2010 event invitation list or would like more information please contact Kate McBain on 3833 2500 or katem@brizbrain.com.au.

Orange Thumbs Event 2009 - Hope Nailed

September 18-19 saw a new trend in Bundaberg, with many residents painting their thumbnails orange to raise money for the BrizBrain & Spine Research Foundation and Camp Quality Bundaberg. In exchange for a gold coin donation, people painted their digits with bright orange polish to publicly show their support and raise money. The event raised a grand total of $3,634 and we were thrilled with the result. BrizBrain & Spine Research Foundation would like to thank Garry Lawton for his assistance with the event.

Bridge to Brisbane 2008

See below some photos of patients, their family and friends participating in the 2008 Bridge to Brisbane.  Our sincere thanks go to all that helped support the BrizBrain & Spine Research Foundation and proudly wore our T-shirts.

There are more events to come so stay tuned!