February 2010

Help us grow the event by forwarding this email onto your friends and family; talking to your pastor or youth leader; ordering a Promo DVD and showing it to your mum's group; what are you waiting for? You can also send an email to a friend from the website. Good news for all of you who have tested out View Track in section 3 of the trail. It's the steepest section of our walk and will certainly test your quads! Parks Victoria have kindly given us permission to install ropes on the day of the event to help you down. While training on this descent (without ropes), keep to the sides of the trail, keep your centre of gravity low and take your time. The trail has undergone some changes with Parks Victoria altering some parts of the trail. Of particular interest is the feeder trail that leads up to Janesdell Rd (in the last leg of the trail) - this has been replaced with a widened bush trail. The mapbookreads "7. The narrow track will descend then climb and swing to the right up to Janesdell Rd." You will need to exit the bush trail and head up to Janesdell Rd (some 10-20m). Make sure you always carry your mapbook when out training (register to receive your training mapbook). Go to Trail Updates here. Fundraising Tip: We've watched one of our walkers send an email to his supporters asking for their help. It resulted in good support by way of donations. The email was simple - it explained the Dalit children's plight and what was being done to remedy it. It also gave a clear request for their financial support and provided a step by step approach to using the online donations webpage (including the web address). It also explained the 100% promise, and the tax-deductibility of all donations. Why not fashion an email and give it a go yourself? You have nothing to lose - and you may see similar results (if you need some inspiration, send as an email and we'll shoot you a sample). Remember - most people genuinely want to help and will support the cause and you in your 50km effort - so be brave and amek the ask! Your supporters can donate safely online by clicking here. Go to Fundraising tips here. Training Tip: Stretching. It's important to keep your muscles supple while doing any exercising to avoid injury. Do some light stretching before you head out on your walk, then about 1km into the walk - stop and do some more thorough stretching - at this time, your muscles will have warmed up. Whenever you feel your muscles tightening on the walk - or you feel joint pain, stop and take a few minutes to stretch out the muscles in the paining area, massaging gently the tendons and ligaments around sore joints. You should work on hamstrings, calves, quads, hip flexors, glutes and ITBs (run down outside of your thighs). Never over stretch or bounce - gentle stretching is the key. Read more here. Go to Training Tips here. Go the Extra Mile event t-shirts and hats are available for sale. $15 for T-Shirts $12 for hats (Add $7 for postage) Get more info here. For more information about the event go to our web page: http://www.walk4charity.com We welcome your comments and suggestions on this newsletter. Email the editor.   Back issues of Go the Extra Mile newsletters can be found here. Click here for Newsletter archives.

Final Day for Registration Competition Registrations received with payment before March 14, 2010 go into the draw for a lunch for 2 at the world famous Skyhigh Restaurant (value to $90). So get committed to the cause, and help us plan the event by registering your participation now. You can register by clicking here. *** Registrations for the event will be received up until April 30th. The Art of Self Promotion Just Got Easier You asked for it - and we've heard you! You can now create your own Team Page on the website. This is a great way to inform your supporters about your training experiences, fundraising targets, why you're walking - whatever you like. Upload your team photo, create a team profile - and then get started creating blog entries detailing your travels. You must login before you can change your team's details - once logged in go here (i.e. myWALK -> Team Page). Social Injustice We Cannot Ignore The plight of the Dalits of India has existed for more than 3,000 years and yet for most of the world, the injustice they have suffered has been largely ignored. The worldview of the religious system of India has served to enslave an entired portion of the population into a life of injustice, poverty and disadvantage. Children born into "untouchability", will live through incredible hardships to then die in their poverty with the hope of a better "next" life. Gospel for Asia's "Bridge of Hope" centres seek to change this by providing a way out of this hopelessness - through education, food and clothing, medical care and the message of the Christian gospel - about a caring God who loves them unconditionally. Help us reach our goal of 500,000 children in care by Going the Extra Mile with us.  Our Top Teams & Walkers - The Leaderboard   Team Fundraisers Harden Up $825.00 Hill's Tribe $525.00 Breathing not Talking $450.00 Individual Fundraisers Beverley Hughes $525.00 Madeleine Jackel $450.00 Christa de Silva $430.00 Aussie Disposals is a big hearted organisation! They have decided to help and support Go the Extra Mile by providing discounted product for Extra Milers (you'll find a voucher booklet in your registration packs). They have also provided a generous prize to be offered to our highest fundraisers - we'll fill you in on that soon. Having sat and discussed the approach of Aussie Disposal's business practices, I can report that great effort is put into sourcing product from reputable companies that look after their workforce. Their mission reads: “Assie Disposals values its customers and workforce. Our priorities are customer satisfaction, business ethics and competitive pricing.” We're grateful for their help - support those who support us! Videographers & Photographers - we're looking for any folks good with images - either video or stills - who would like to help us document the walk in May. If you know someone, why not encourage them to contact us. Sydney Bushwalkers - know someone in Sydney who could help us get a Sydney walk started? We'd love to hear from them as we are now making plans to extend Go the Extra Mile into other capital cities. We walk to change the appalling situation that traps the Dalit children of India in a lifetime of extreme poverty. Through the incredible work of the Bridge of Hope centres the poverty cycle is being broken - the gospel is being preached, dignity is being restored and lives are being transformed - forever. Remember that every dollar you raise is used to bring tangible changes to countless children's lives!

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