eKourier Jan 2021

CHARITY

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE VALUE OF CLEAN SHEETS AND A COMFY BED... DOIN' IT ROUGH! Snuggling into a cold slab of concrete isn’t usually my desired way to spend a night. Throw in a little rain, some mosquitoes, a few passing vehicles (every second) and you have the perfect combination for a highly uncomfortable nights rest.

which, go us, we won, as we watched the virtual event unfold. We couldn’t have asked for better weather. But as I got ready to settle in for the night that wasn’t the case, the weather was turning, there was a dampness in the air and rain was on its way. I could feel my chest tightening up. Oh no I thought, not now, not tonight. I opened the sliding doors to my house and rushed to my bedside table scrambling for my faithful Ventolin sucking down a few puffs. There it was, that ah-ha moment that blindsides you when you least expect it. Like many diseases, if not managed correctly Asthma can be fatal. In that split second I realised how easy it was for me to make my problem go away. It was just one example of the many health issues that anyone can suffer, but without the correct environment can be catastrophic. This year my Teams Sleep Under The Stars fundraising campaign revolved around the catchphrase 'Never Underestimate the Value of Clean Sheets and a Soft Pillow' . Believe me, unless you’ve hugged the concrete (sober of course) it’s this stuff we take for granted. No matter what side you try to lie on, concrete doesn’t miraculously get softer. As I lay on my uncovered balcony the rain started to hit my face, drip, drip, drip, I could see my soft comfy couch through the sliding glass doors, at any moment I could go inside, but I had committed to my sponsors to go no frills. It didn’t take long before the small number of possessions I had and myself was wet. In a true MacGyver moment I ripped off the BBQ cover and made myself a little refuge. Fortunately, I am only 5 foot 4 and the shape of the cover did an okay job of making sure I didn’t get saturated, but it was far from comfortable.

a true reality check on what some of the young residents at Stepping Stone House have faced (or were about to face) had the front door of Stepping Stone House never opened for them. Couch surfing or living rough, call it what you like, having no fixed address at such a young age would be a scary place to be. As a former design student I’ve always found something special about the entry to a home. When it's done right there is a level of emotion. I was privileged enough to meet some of the young residents who reside at Stepping Stone House. As I walked up the path I was thinking about what it would be like for one of their young people opening that door for the first time, nervous, scared, excited, unsure, grateful. Without the ongoing support of people like you, there would be no door for them. That one door, opens up to a home, to a bedroom, to love and support and most importantly, change. Our company purpose is exactly that, to provide 'Space For Change' . Nothing says it more beauti- fully than supporting Stepping Stone House in their journey to change how we view, manage and support our youth at risk. I don’t think any of us can truly appreciate the great work that Stepping Stone House do for these kids to have a “home”. A place where its safe to go to sleep, rain, hail or shine. A place where they can learn, grow up and one day close the door behind them and take on the world in a way they never imagined! This years event raised $630,000 which will support 21 youth for an entire year. What a tremendous result. Thank you to everyone who sponsored for your incredible generosity and support. Fiona Harding Sleep Under The Stars Ambassador Business Development Manager

B ut, this night was different. As I lay back on the concrete I let out a sigh of satisfaction. My Team the Kennards Self Storage FREEDOM Fighters, had raised over $15,000, and sleeping out with only the bare essentials was a true reminder of why we were doing it and just how far we can go. I was chuffed to know the money we had campaigned will change lives! The experience was all part of this years Stepping Stone House, Sleep Under the Stars 2020 virtual event. An event designed to give participants a taste of what life can be like when you remove all the certainty from your surroundings. This year was my fifth year taking part, raising money and sleeping out. Early that evening our Team had put on a BBQ and taken part in the “build your own shelter” competition

When the weather turns bad it gives you

21 Kennards Kourier Jan 2021