SUMMER NEWSLETTER

January, 2016

Dear Supporter,

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas and fantastic New Year. As we leapt into Summer here at Variety our Clauses for a Cause took to the gardens at Government House to show their support for Variety . Also, thanks to being chosen as the charity of choice for the 2016 Your Habitat Carols by Candelight, we benefitted from the wonderful opportunity of selling merchandise, programmes and sausages over the course of two nights and raised over $12,000 to assist Tassie children in need.

As we now look forward to the new year we are putting the final touches to an exciting new event and would like to share with you details of one of our core programmes.

Read on to discover what we are up to here at Variety Tasmania and how you can be involved.

Kind regards,

Luke, Nina & Ashlee

Focus on Freedom

In this newsletter we focus on one of our core programmes, Freedom. This initiative provides funding for mobility equipment for individual children such as wheelchairs, walking frames and customised tricycles, enabling children to get out and about. Under this unique program, we also donate Liberty Swings to communities so children in wheelchairs or with various physical impairments can feel the joy of playing on a swing — a simple pleasure that other children can often take for granted. Variety Tasmania also puts Sunshine Coaches on the road, taking kids with physical disability, regional or social disadvantage out into the community to experience a range of programs and activities. Take a look below to see how the Freedom Program has helped one little boy from Hobart.

Meet Logan

Logan is an 18 month old little boy who was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called Pitt Hopkins Syndrome (PTHS).

Logan has low muscle tone which impairs his ability to control his head and neck and capacity to sit unsupported. He also experiences intermittent changes to his breathing patterns, which, without good positioning, may lead to light headedness, fainting, numbness and tingling in his hands and feet and abdominal discomfort.

For a number of months Logan and his family relied on the use of an ‘off the shelf’ stroller which was modified for his condition. However this was no longer deemed to be suitable for his needs.

After trialling a Kimba Neo Stroller, it was found that Logan was able to sustain appropriate positioning for over 30 minutes and there was also an increase in the use of his arms and legs. Based upon this compelling story of hope Variety Tasmania sourced a Kimba Neo Stroller commissioned especially for him.

Within a week of , Logan was experiencing a whole new world of outdoor activities accompanied by his parents and siblings. One occasion which brings cheer to everyone was Logan’s very first visit to a wildlife park and feeding a wallaby. www.variety.org.au/tas

SUMMER NEWSLETTER

January, 2016

Santa Fun Run—Wrap Up

Variety Tasmania again called on Tasmanians to become a ‘Claus for a Cause’ and participate in the Variety Santa Fun Run on Sunday 6 December, 2015. This event saw people of all ages and abilities unite to run, roll, walk or jog the circuit around the grounds of Government House in Santa suits to raise money for the children’s charity.

The Santa Fun Run proved to be a perfect way to get the festive season into swing by enjoying some light-hearted outdoor activities and making the most of the morning by bringing a picnic brunch to enjoy in one of Hobart’s most spectacular settings. Thank you to everyone who took part in the Santa Fun Run and helping Variety Tasmania raise over $5,000.

Your Habitat Carols by Candelight—Wrap Up

We had a fantastic time at the 2016 Carols by Candlelight event held in St Davids’ Park. Not only did we get a chance to meet some wonderful people who came to enjoy the festivities, but through the sales of merchandise, programmes and sausages, we raised in excess of $12,000!

Coming Up—Variety Bash

On Monday 8 February Blundstone Arena will play host to a very special cricket match. Thanks to a wonderful alliance between Tasmanian cricket’s ‘big hitters’ and the Children’s Charity, Variety Tasmania supporters can pay to play and be joined by , , and .

In the true spirit of a charity cricket match, people of all ages are encouraged to be part of the action by coming along to watch the spectacle. Entry to the match is by gold coin donation.

Those wishing to find out more about the 2016 Variety Tasmania Cricket Bash are invited to visit www.variety.org.au/tas

www.variety.org.au/tas