How Octobeard began

Two years ago I started growing a beard as a physical reminder for my wife of how it felt to kiss a smoker. I declared that I would shave my beard when she quit smoking. Well Trish has been a non-smoker for over a month now so, it's time to forfeit the beard.

But I want to do it for a good cause so we have decided on one final challenge to ensure the moment the beard comes of is as celebratory and life changing as quitting smoking has been for health.

So we have decided to fundraise for a cause I'm passionate about: empowering athletes with disabilities to live a healthy lifestyle through Sporting Dreams, an organisation I volunteer with.

The final beard challenge...What you can do to finally get me fresh faced

Those who know me understand my dedication to inclusion and accessibility, particulalry in the field of recreation and sport. Many of you will have recently watched the Paralympics and been inspired by many of these dedicated athletes athletes, some of whom can out compete their able bodied counterparts.

But few may have considered the every day challenges and extra costs of specialised equipment or the dupilaction of travel for support staff and guides for these atheletes. Sure sprint shoes and blocks are expensive, but have you thought of the cost of prosthetic sprint blades, trackchairs, handcrank cycles?

"A pair of running shoes costs $100, a racing wheelchair to compete on the exact same track is $7000"-Marayke Jonkers Paralympian & Sporting Dreams Founder

Equipment for parathletes is either custom built and fitted or modified to suit the particular requirements of their users. For begining athletes the costs specialist sporting equipment is bourn by the athletes and their families on top of any adaptive equipent needed for daily living.

Here’s what we’re doing about it

So with the paralymics just past and Movember just around the corner, I would like to declare this month "Octobeard" - a celebration of facial frivolity, dedicated to raising funds for "Sporting Dreams" a charity establisted by Paralypian Marayke Jonkers to provide support for resources for atheletes with a disability.

You can join us

We are aiming to raise $5000 which will go directly to athletes to provide grants for equipment such as racing wheelchairs, prosthetic limbs or remove other barriers to participation and achievement.

About the cause you will be supporting

Founded by triple Paralympian Marayke Jonkers, Sporting Dreams is a foundation empowering people with physical disabilities to enjoy fun, fitness and personal development through sport and to achieve their sporting dreams – becoming role models for a fit and healthy lifestyle in the process. We provide grants to assist with the cost of equipment such as racing wheelchairs, and to assist with training and competition expenses. 37 grants have been presented since beginning in 2008, with 11 athletes representing Australia internationally, while for others it was the simple thrill of having the chance to ride a bike with their siblings.

www.sportingdreams.org.au

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