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Brooke Hanson splashes out for RIDBC
Olympic Gold Medallist, Brooke Hanson recently splashed out at Quirindi in the northern NSW tablelands as part of the 2009 RIDBC Splash for Cash swimathon.
Now in its 26th year, the RIDBC Splash for Cash is a fun-filled family swimathon that raises money for the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC) (www.ridbc.org.au). Each year at venues across Australia, swimmers of all ages and abilities raise funds for RIDBC by collecting sponsorship for each lap they swim, or simply for swimming in the event.
More than 30 swimmers and their families joined Brooke for the Splash for Cash event held at the local Quirindi Swimming Pool. Brooke and her husband Jared also ran a special morning swim clinic with up-and-coming swimmers and signed autographs for fans during a BBQ lunch.
This was the first year the town has hosted the event, but the support of the community was overwhelming with $5,000 raised so far.
These funds will go directly to the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children’s RIDBC Teleschool service.
The RIDBC Teleschool has pioneered the latest communications technology to connect deaf children and blind children from all over Australia to RIDBC's Sydney-based team of highly specialised staff. In doing so, RIDBC Teleschool is showing that technology can overcome distance and isolation – no matter how far or how remote – in the delivery of education.
Qurindi’s Splash for Cash Co-ordinator, Erica Keeys and her family are just one of hundreds benefiting from this free service. Erica and her family were so appreciative of this support that they decided to organise the Quirindi Splash for Cash event.
Erica’s two-year-old son Mason was born with vision impairment. Thanks to special equipment installed by RIDBC in his family’s living room, Mason and his parents have weekly videonconferencing sessions with their RIDBC specialist Teacher/Consultant. This service has saved the family hours in travelling time and has enabled Mason to receive support weekly instead of monthly.
To find out more about the RIDBC Splash for Cash swimathon, visit www.splashforcash.com.au.
For media inquiries please contact Tess Cosgrove on:
- (02) 9872 0304
- 0424 409 155
- Tess.Cosgrove@ridbc.org.au.
