#22

24 Aug #22

I always knew that setting up our association would take a lot of time and red tape but I still underestimated just how much. Speaking of “red”, as some of you are aware, our website was down for several days. Thank goodness for Danielle Beltramelli (owner of Red Rooster Fairfield Waters) who, as I now frequently depend on as my IT saviour, once again came to the rescue and quickly got us back up and running!

As for Unlock the Lachs Inc, I think we’ve decided not to proceed with our application to become a registered charity. We are still a not for profit incorporation but, ideally, it would have been good to have been able to offer tax deductible receipts for donations. Unfortunately, to do this, we would be defeating the purpose of our being. We would have to prove by means testing that the recipients of any gift from us could not afford any other way to do it themselves. One of our main objectives is for North Queensland families to not have to prove they couldn’t do it otherwise. They have enough stress, decisions, paperwork and weight on their minds, they should just be able to enjoy something given out of love. Full steam ahead with little offerings making big differences.

I’d like to send a huge thank you to our ambassador, Dominic Tonner. Dominic is a local running sensation. I am friends with Dominic’s family and they have been a great support over the years. As soon as Dom heard about Unlock the Lachs he immediately offered to run wearing our logo to promote our cause. Last Sunday when he won Run Townsville for his age group and was interviewed by local Councillor, Ray Gartrell, he declared his winnings would be being donated to Unlock the Lachs. That interview went viral on FaceBook through Ray’s page and attracted a whole new audience. The word is spreading and I am so grateful to this young man who is genuine, caring, inspiring and has the running world at his feet.