All for a good cause

[rebekahkeat]

Hi Guys,
I wanted to post you something that I feel very strongly about.
After losing my Gran and my Dad who were both cancer victoms,I want to think I can make a difference to someone's lives no matter how small it may be!
I wanted to ask for your help towards a little girl Alana who is 5 and was diagnosed with Luekaemia.
We all take life and our amazingly fit body's for granted,then with the flick of a switch this can happen to any of us,its scarey!
The family of Alani have asked me as a pro athlete to donate my Trisuit autographed for her to be auctioned at the Port Mac Australian Ironman.All the money goes to helping Alani get the treatment she needs.
I thought if any of you can buy ickets or donate something it would be so great!I was thinking of getting the whole team to sign a shirt which we can Auction or something like that?
Let me know your thoughts and please read below for her story ;


Please see the following Link for the Port Macquarie Triathlon Club Forum for details on how to buy tickets for the 2nd 2009 Australian Ironman Entry Raffle. There are also thousands of dollars worth of other prizes up for grabs... The full list of prizes available is being continually updated on the Tri Club forum as additional prizes are being donated almost daily. So should you be keen on purchasing a ticket, or even donating an item to the ever-expanding list of prizes, then contact the Raffle Manager, Darrell Nash at darrellnash2002@yahoo.com.au

The specific link for the raffle is below:

http://www.portmactriclub.com.au/forum/vie...hp?f=2&t=69

100% of the money raised goes to Alani Cockshutt, a local 5 year old little girl who has been diagnosed with Leukaemia. More info on this is available through the aforementioned link.

[doc]

lets get to work people ,
this littel girl , needs our help .

[Manu]

done bought 5 tickets checks is on the mail

[Caroline Koll - "Bean"]

Lost my Grand Dad and my Mom has only just been declared in remission for the second time from the big C. The treatment is tougher than a Sutto training session, so can you imagine doing that as a 5-year old???
I am not (yet) famous, so I will do one better than the Cuban - 6 tickets for me   

[Nashy]

GDay Guys

My name is Darrell Nash – “Nashy” (Not even my wife calls me Darrell) and I started off this fundraiser hoping to get a bit of local (as in around Port Macquarie NSW) support for Alani Cockshutt, as Bek has said a 5 year old little girl who was diagnosed with leukaemia as soon as they returned from Kona Hawaii. Alani’s mum Mel finished 3rd Female at last years Australian Ironman behind Chrissie Wellington. An outstanding effort for an age grouper. Mel then packed up the bags for her entire family and headed to Kona to complete on the World Stage.

Alani was “not quite right” whilst in Kona and after going to a local doctor the decision was made to have blood test done back in Australia - as that’s where they would be anyway by the time the results came back from the Hawaiian pathology lab.

From 3rd in Australia, in front of your home crowd, to competing in arguably the ultimate triathlon event anywhere in the world, to “sorry but your 4 year old (at the time of diagnosis) baby girl is suddenly fighting for her life and has Leukaemia. You will need to travel approx. 400km away from the comfort of your own home and beds to stay indefinitely with your little girl whilst she receives round upon round of chemotherapy – Oh and by the way, you still have to pay the bills whilst you and your family are away from your jobs”.

I don’t know about you, but my wife and I have a 2 ½ year old little girl and I know, with out a doubt, that if I ever have to experience the rollercoaster that Alani and her family have had to (and continue to) endure then I would be a complete waste of space. Alani is currently waiting for her blood counts to improve before she undergoes her 4th round of chemotherapy. This kid is amazingly brave and what about her parents!!!

Whilst you and I are not in a position where we can literally “fix” Alani we are most definitely in the position where we can make a huge difference to her and her family’s lives, as they move through this very difficult time. Some of us are in a very privileged position where we may get paid to do something we love. If however that money suddenly stopped appearing in our bank accounts we would start to feel the pressure and our stress levels would rise. Can you imagine compounding this with facing your little girl fighting for her life? 

My aim from the beginning, with regard to the fund raisers I have been organising for little Alani, is to simply take that one (1) financial pressure away from them so that they can at least remain as a family to support not only Alani but each other without having to worry about how they were going to pay the bills etc... My idea of a local venture to raise a few bob within our home town of Port Macquarie quickly spread state wide, national and now has gone global. I have and continue to be blown away by the support of so many amazing human beings and companies who have jumped on board to show their support for this beautiful little girl. It is very much appreciated and I thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart.

If you feel you would like to contribute to this venture, either by purchasing a ticket or by donating a prize, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to contact me anytime either by email darrellnash2002@yahoo.com.au or by phone 0418213866.
I am more than happy to take any suggestions on board as well as any criticisms (that’s how we learn to do things better)…

At this time (25th January 2009) there is over $8500.00 worth of prizes up for grabs - with much more awaiting confirmation. Tickets are $10.00 each with 100% of the money raised going into a special account of Alani’s, set up specifically for these ventures. At this stage many people have bought 1 or 2 tickets with the most sold to any one individual being 25.

Please check out the link to the forum page containing everything you need to know about this venture. Keep going back, because as Bek has said, I am updating it at least five (5) times every day as new info or prizes come in.

http://www.portmactriclub.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=69

If you do decide to purchase tickets please ensure that you notify me at darrellnash2002@yahoo.com.au with the details (found on forum page) so that I can ensure you are validated and in the draw.

Thanks so much to Bek and the many big hearted people that have already supported this venture. It is a GREAT feeling to know that you CAN do something great and make a real difference in this world.

Thanks for reading…

Darrell Nash - Nashy
Port Macquarie Triathlon Club
Junior Co-ordinator

[doc]

we are all over it nashy ,
please pass on team tbb s best wishes for the entire family , in this very very difficult time
cheers sutto

[Nashy]

I’m not sure what “all over it” means?

In Australia it may mean that (you have had enough of hearing about it and to go way and leave us alone)?

I really apologies if I have over stepped the mark. My intention is simply to help this little girl out as much as I can, not to be a pain in the bum. I truly appreciate the support that you have all given and thank you for same.

Once again, sorry if I have upset anyone…

Many regards

Darrell Nash
Port Macquarie Triathlon Club
Juniors Co-ordinator

[Donna]

I think "all over it" means we're jumping on the opportunity to help out?

[Nashy]

Oh

OK well thanks for that Donna. The whole subject relating to Leukaemia really has the potential to bring up emissions and past memories. So for those that have been “touched” my heart goes out to you. For those that haven’t I truly hope you never are!!!

Nashy

[Donna]

I can see how that can be the case. It seems like we all know someone who's been affected. I had eight aunts and uncles with cancer so my heart goes out to Alani and her family. Thinking happy thoughts for her...

[Nashy]

Bek has confirmed with me today that she is adding a triathlon bike to the list of prizes. That takes the total value of prizes to well over $11 500.00.

I would like to go on record in expressing my gratitude to Bek. She is not only an amazing athlete but also a beautiful person with a very big heart. Although I am sure to those of you that know her, this is nothing you didn't already know...

Having said that we are gathering an amazing list of prizes - they aren't much good if tickets don't sell!!! So please spread the world through club forums, chat rooms, sing loudly from your showers, talk to friends or the media or any other way that will help people become aware of this venture. Don't forget to grab 1 or 2 tickets for yourselves.

Train safe

Nashy

[Cameron Watt - "CAM"]

wow that's fantastic Bek!!!!

[doc]

hi,
seems you got it a bit wrong , and donna helped you out
it is meant to say we just did not get it and will help  where we can
but we will do everything possible  to help .
nashy
here it only looks like a tri web site , its all a big myth
this is a collection of people with heart just like beks ,
some times results scare the mortals  away ,
but all that is different here is they go fast on a bike and fast on a run and some go fast on a swim .

any body in the group knows , we are all strugglers , some have made good , in their chosen sport
triathlon ,
but we are full of real people here prima donnas dont last long .

we are trying this year to get more of the rank and file age groupers to join us and write on our site.

all their stories , ups and downs , warts and hillarious .
but, be assured , every body here has signed a contract where they , are expected to help in the social projects we take up , failure to say yes to that , means no matter how good , they are .
they dont become  team tbb athletes .
we all think you are doing a wunderful , thing to try and help this family in their time of need .
we will try to help as much as possible , hence , we will be "all over it "

[teamTBBmgr]

Bek,

Please buy me 10 tickets at $10 for Alani, I will pay you the cash in Geelong next month.

Sending checks and all that will be too complicated, but love to help this great cause!

Well done Bek and best wishes and strength to the Alani and her family!!

Alex

[Nashy]

Thanks very much for that Doc.

It’s funny but when Bek first told me that “Brett Sutton” had endorsed this venture I replied “that’s nice but umm - who is Brett Sutton?” I also told her that, personally I do triathlons to complete and not to compete. If you could see me you would understand!!! I have played Rugby League for most of my life and only joined this great sport around 4 years ago. I love it!!!

I am very proud of myself for completing the 2008 Australian Ironman here in Port Macquarie last year and was planing to give it another shot in April. I however had to shelve plans for that when I broke my back just before Christmas whilst training for the event. I see my surgeon again next Friday and hope to be able to start some sort of rehab soon so now I am setting my goal at a comeback at the Australian I.M. in 2010 – all things going to plan. If Alani can fight to overcome leukaemia then I can “toughen the - you know what - up” and overcome this…

Doc, you must be a very dedicated and inspirational man to have enabled so many athletes to reach their full potential. I also think you guys at TBB have got it right and will produce not only champions on race day but also bring out the person within the champion… Good on Ya!!!

All the very best mate.

Nashy