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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-04-11 Daily Xml
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JIMMY'S WALK FOR CANCER

Mr SIBBONS (Mitchell) (15:10): Today I would like to share with you what is really only the beginning of a remarkable story. On 19 May 2013 a 19 year old from Reynella, Jimmy Harrington, will set out on a 12-month 18,000 kilometre walk around Australia to raise money for childhood cancer. Yes, I did say 12 months, 18,000 kilometre walk around Australia. Jimmy's goal is to raise $300,000 for the Brainchild Foundation. The Brainchild Foundation is a Queensland-based charity established to heighten awareness and increase support for children suffering brain and spinal cord tumours, and their families. The foundation was established by medical professionals and dedicated families and friends of children with cancer.

Jimmy's determination to make a difference began when he met a young girl named Emily Crook, who had childhood cancer. After a second round of chemotherapy, Emily recovered and the cancer went into remission. Sadly, the cancer returned as brain tumour. Due to the intense chemotherapy that Emily had already undergone, her body rejected further treatment and surgery was not an alternative. All that could be done was to make Emily as comfortable as possible. Unfortunately, she passed away in August 2011.

Jimmy felt he could not sit back and see this happen to other families like Emily's. With the true passion and energy of youth, Jimmy wanted to make a difference—and this is how Jimmy's Walk for Cancer project began. His philosophy was to change the world one step at a time. Jimmy's planning to make this project a success is in itself a huge achievement. There is a detailed itinerary of the walk, including distances covered, dates and locations, stopovers, as well as fundraising, sponsorship and a media strategy.

Using electronic media, Jimmy has enlisted the help of celebrity musicians Seal, Shannon Noll, Jessica Mauboy, Wes Carr and The Potbelleez, whose hit song Don't Hold Back seems a fitting theme for Jimmy's journey. He has also met with Delta Goodrem and Lisa Mitchell to discuss the project. With more than 11,500 Facebook supporters, a clothing sponsorship and charity concerts in all major east coast capitals, as well as in Adelaide, Jimmy's Walk for Cancer is building momentum across the nation.

Jimmy's training regime consists of walking or running between 25 kilometres to 30 kilometres a day on both road and treadmill. He regularly walks the 21 kilometres from the Adelaide CBD to his home in Reynella and has undertaken a trial walk/run from Adelaide to Victor Harbor. He is seeking donations and business sponsorship to assist with a support vehicle, shoes and footwear, medical needs and communications for the journey. Fundraising activities are happening prior to and during the walk, and include sausage sizzles, chocolate drives, bingo, movie nights, market stalls and the sale of promotional items.

It is incredibly important to recognise the hard work and dedication of young people like Jimmy. Often our society and communities tend to stereotype young people and, let's face it, more often that not these stereotypes are negative. So, when a young man like Jimmy dedicates himself to helping others in this way, I think it is vital that we share this story. Everyone in the community benefits from a project like Jimmy's Walk for Cancer.

The Children's Cancer Institute Australia's website notes that prior to the 1960s childhood cancer was almost always fatal. Today in Australia survival rates are about 75 percent across all types of childhood cancer. However, there is much more work to be done, with cancer still being responsible for more deaths of children than any other disease in Australia. Beyond the money raised by Jimmy for this important research and awareness work, there are those whose lives he impacts along the way. Already Jimmy has touched literally thousands of young Australians with his passion, energy and positive attitude for change.

This kind of project inspires a sense of community amongst diverse groups from schools, churches, sporting groups and businesses, as well as the neighbours and friends of Emily and her family, coming together to turn heartbreak into something real and something good. Please have a look at Jimmy's website, www.jimmyswalkforcancer.com, and I encourage you all to become involved with Jimmy's Walk For Cancer and to support an amazing young South Australian attempting to achieve his goal.

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