Kosciuszko to Coogee (K2C): the home stretch

You can join in two events that will mark the final stages of Lance Mitchell's Kosciuszko to Coogee fund-raising ride for Down Syndrome NSW this week:

K2C - Kiama Dinner

Thursday  2nd April at 6:00pm

Down Syndrome NSW invites you to our community dinner at Blue Diamond restaurant at the Sebel Harbourside. The guest of honour is Lance Mitchell, who is riding from Kosciusko to Coogee to raise money and awareness for Down Syndrome NSW.

Down Syndrome NSW Executive Director Tracylee Arestides, Information, Training & Support Manager Judy Davidson and Community Engagement Manager Benjamin Chinnock will also be in attendance.

The Sebel Habourside - 31 Shoalhaven Street, Kiama NSW 2533There is a $10 pizza special on Thursday night or other dishes also available for purchase.

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Lance is set to arrive in Coogee at around midday on Sunday 5th April,

We are organising a gathering to congratulate him. We will be meeting at 11am on Coogee beach. Look out for the Down Syndrome NSW flags. The Arden Lounge at the Coogee Bay Hotel is reserved from midday in case of bad weather.

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Kosciuszko to Coogee, is an inspired fundraising idea to help raise money for the work of Down Syndrome NSW. Created by Lance Mitchell it starts on 21st March 2015 and involves 16 days of cycling from Mt Kosciuszko all the way to Coogee finishing on the 5th April.

Lance’s childhood friend since before Kindy, Cameron Carmody’s daughter Alicia is the source of inspiration for Lance’s ride. “I want to make a difference, I’m inspired by the work of Down Syndrome NSW and wanted to support them by creating Kosciuszko to Coogee.”

Alicia was born with Transient Leukaemia and Down syndrome. Lance reflects “”As one could imagine we extended our unconditional love and support, and did what we could to help. The first and most obvious step was to help Alicia through the chemotherapy and to stabilise her health as best as possible. This was a rough time for everyone, but particularly so for Cameron and Rebecca and their families, but little Alicia showed the gumption of a weathered soldier and pulled through the storm.”

Whilst clearly not a matter of life and death, the sudden and quite unexpected Down syndrome diagnosis nevertheless concerned Cameron and Rebecca greatly as they knew little about it. Lance recounts “They now found themselves riding a particularly daunting roller coaster, feeling quite alone. In the darkness of their isolation a lighthouse beam cut out from the horizon: Down Syndrome NSW.”