A2B4C

Edging closer to $1 million

a2b4c — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 05:30:36 +0000

It has only been a month, but it now seems like I have been back home for much longer. We are still getting things back to the rightful owners and finalising other items from additional fundraisers since returning home. We had our finale ball on Friday 25^th September which was organised by a group of friends while I was away. The girls thought at first that it would be a problem getting 300 people to attend the ball, but it was the complete opposite. The tickets more or less sold out within the first week and we had to squeeze in extra tables to then cater for the sponsors who also came to the event. We raised over $60,000 on the night from auctions and had an additional $40,000 donated in cheques from various groups and individuals.

I attended the Newport Arms Hotel as the guest speaker for the Liquor Trade Lunch, hosted by the Bayfield family. The Liquor Marketing Group (Bottlemart) have been a great sponsor and with the Bayfields help, the luncheon raised over $160,000. The day was a huge success and all the companies involved didn’t let us down on the day with some great donations.

Will we make the million dollars? I still believe we can. We still have money coming in from both of these functions mentioned and other groups that have been touched during my event around Australia are still collecting money. Active Trees have also been raising money and we hope to get a further donation from their staff’s efforts in the next month.

Keep watching the website as I hope to see the million mark flash on the web page in the near future.

All the best, Craig

Tagged: A2B4C, Active Tree Services, Bottlemart, Children's Cancer Institute Australia, Craig Goozee, donations, Finale Dinner, fundraising, Liquor Marketing Group, Newport Arms Hotel

Where do the A2B4C funds go?

a2b4c — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 01:02:16 +0000

All money raised from Craig’s epic marathon go directly to support research at Children’s Cancer Institute Australia for Medical Research (CCIA).

CCIA is the only independant medical research institute in the country devoted to research into the causes, prevention, better treatments and cure of childhood cancer. The vision of the Institute is to save the lives of all children with cancer and to eliminate their suffering.

In November this year, CCIA will relocate to the Lowy Cancer Research Centre – a world-class, purpose built research facility on the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Campus in Randwick, Sydney. The new facility will more than triple the Institute’s laboratory research capacity from its current facility. This will enable CCIA to strategically build new areas of research which, along with the existing translational research capacity, will provide exciting opportunities to deliver accelerated and improved outcomes in the cure, treatment and prevention of childhood cancer.

Money raised from A2B4C will go towards:

Development of ‘personalised’ medicine for childhood cancer – using unique experimental models and advanced genomic approaches to tailor treatment protocols to the individual

Enhancing drug discovery capacity – building on CCIA’s rapidly growing capacity to develop novel therapeutic approaches to childhood cancer

Translation of research discoveries in the laboratory into greater benefits in the clinic – together with our clinical partners, we will build a pipeline to translate our research discoveries into better health outcomes for children with cancer.

Click here to make a donation towards Craig’s $1 million target for childhood cancer research.

Tagged: A2B4C, childhood cancer, Children's Cancer Institute Australia, Craig Goozee, donations, fundraising, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, medical research, University of New South Wales

Good to be home

a2b4c — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 05:39:11 +0000

Well isn’t it weird to be back home after three months on the road in the fantastic campervan from Sydney RV Centre. As you saw earlier on the blog, we all got together on the first weekend back home and had a few quite drinks at the Newport Arms Hotel. Since then, a group of friends and some of the support crew all came down to Brookvale Oval last Saturday night to help raise additional funds. With the help of the Manly NRL team, I was interviewed on the field by Peter Peters while the support crew went around the crowd collecting donations. It appears we raised around $9,000 from the collection with a crowd of 14,000 people.

Manly have since added to their support by having one of the great players donate himself to the cause for a day on Manly Beach. Thanks Choc, this is much appreciated.

I have continued training to keep the body from shutting down and have gone back to Scenar Health for some recovery sessions. We have still been busy with radio interviews and I will be live in the studio of 2KY/Sky Sports this Sunday between 8.30am -9am.

Our finale dinner that is fast approaching sold out in the first week and it looks like we are having about 400 guests to the function. With money raised from this, and other donations still rolling in I am hoping to still climb towards the million dollar mark. I will leave you this week with some additional footage not seen before on the blogs.

Cheers Craig

Lonely outback roads

Out on the water

Tagged: 2KY, A2B4C, Anthony Watmough, Brookvale Oval, Children's Cancer Institute Australia, Choc, Craig Goozee, donations, Finale Dinner, fundraising, Manly, Manly Beach, Manly NRL Team, Manly Sea Eagles, Newport Arms Hotel, recovery sessions, Scenar Health, Sky Sports, support crew, Sydney RV Centre, training

Anthony “Choc” Watmough supports Craig Goozee

a2b4c — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:28:47 +0000

You can win the ultimate footy experience with Choc!

I have two young children and as a dad they are my life. I could never imagine what it would be like to lose your child to cancer. Children’s charities are very close to my heart and I feel honoured to have the opportunity to help this amazing charity and Craig find a cure – Anthony “Choc” Watmough

What: Join Anthony “Choc” Watmough for a day of surfing and a game of touch football on beautiful Manly Beach for the ultimate footy experience.
How: Bid on a silent auction is being drawn at the A2B4C Finale dinner.
Who: The highest bidder will win the ultimate footy experience for themselves and 10 of their friends.
Conatct: Nikki Wheeler 0419 236 047
Winner of the Ultimate Footy Experience will be announced at the Finale Dinner or contacted by phone if not in attendance.

Manly Sea Eagles 'Choc' Watmough in action

Tagged: A2B4C, Anthony Watmough, Children's Cancer Institute Australia, Craig Goozee, Footy, Manly Beach, Manly Sea Eagles

Welcome home party at Newport Arms

a2b4c — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 06:07:17 +0000

Craig had his first beer in 14 months and his support crew finally had a chance to relax and let down their hair on Saturday night at a welcome home party hosted by the Newport Arms Hotel.

Around 200 people turned up to welcome Craig home including family, friends, sponsors and other supporters.

Craig says a few words

A2B4C supporters

Craig with CCIA Executive Chairman, Joe Collins and Lucien Loyens from Cannondale

The A2B4C Support Crew... well, most of them

Tagged: A2B4C, Children's Cancer Institute Australia, Craig Goozee, Newport Arms Hotel, support crew

Still striving towards $1 million

a2b4c — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 05:32:22 +0000

YIPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!. What an awesome feeling to ride through the city at 4am on the quiet streets of Sydney and then paddle down that magnificent harbour of ours. It wasn’t until today that we realised that the marathon is in fact only 91 days, not the original 92 as thought. For me, it was a day of very mixed emotions. As I paddled down the harbour and saw the harbour bridge in front of me I thought how proud Jess would have been. Her smile would have been from ear to ear and her facial expressions would have said everything. I know she would have been proud of dad, and I would have loved to have had her by my side at the finish.

The finishing point was a great way to end my journey. While the door closes on my ultra-marathons, the other door stays firmly open in reaching my goal. I feel that I cannot do any more than what I have done to raise funds and awareness and now hope that the rest of Australia get behind me to reach this goal.

This morning we were on the Today program on Channel 9, and then did a live interview with Steve Price on 2UE. I am now planning to relax for a day or two before starting the massive task of sorting out equipment and gear loaned to us for this journey.

I do plan to do another blog next week so don’t leave us just yet as the website will be open for over a month with regular updates. If you are into your fitness then stay tuned as I will mention tips for marathons and general fitness for those who are keen.

To all those who have been watching the blog, I thank you very much for your support.

Stay tuned, Craig

Tagged: 2UE, A2B4C, Channel 9, Children's Cancer Institute Australia, Craig Goozee, donations, fundraising, Jessica Goozee, Sydney, Sydney Harbour, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Today Show, ultra marathon