FaCS partnership raises a mountain of money 

24/11/2004

Department of Family and Community Services (FaCSIA), Secretary, Jeff Harmer, was very impressed by the FaCSIA-Centrelink Hartley Lifecare 'Ability Cycle Challenge' team's dedication to raising funds for Canberrans with a physical disability.

'Through key relationships with Accenture, the Good Guys Tuggeranong and KAZ Technologies, the team has raised over $100,000 in 2004. This is an amazing increase on the $3,000 raised in our first year of involvement, just four years ago,' Dr Harmer said.

'The money has been raised through a combination of corporate sponsorship and fund-raising activities undertaken by FaCSIA-Centrelink team members throughout the year, such as chocolate selling, marshalling at local sports events, sausage sizzles and a trivia night.

'For the last four years the FaCSIA-Centrelink team has participated in the challenge. demonstrating their commitment to giving back to the community. This year we have almost doubled the size of our team to 40 cyclists.'

In total, the 2004 Challenge will see 240 cyclists leave Fyshwick on Friday 26 November to ride 450 kilometres to the top of Mt Kosciuszko and back. Initially it is expected that the event will raise $200,000 for Hartley Lifecare.

'Part of the funds raised will go towards purchasing assistive technology equipment to help people with disabilities to communicate, improving their independence and quality of life.

'Using this technology, these people will be able to interact, speaking out for the first time.

'Hartley Lifecare, a not-for-profit organisation, supports children and their families who live with physical disabilities and I am proud of my staff supporting local community initiatives which will assist those in the most need,' Dr Harmer said.

The Hartley Lifecare 'Ability Cycle Challenge' is held in conjunction with International Day of People with Disabilities.