Scrapheap Adventure Ride returns for the eighth year - the biggest and best ride yet!

The Scrapheap Adventure Ride is a unique fundraising event which involves motorcycle enthusiasts from all over the country purchasing a bike for no more than $1000 and doing it up for an adventure ride through the Aussie outback, all while raising money for people with Down syndrome.

Last year we had a blast at Four Corners Farm Stay in Nymagee. We had 101 riders and together we raised over $97,000! This year we are aiming to top that and raise a new record of over $100,000 with100 plus riders.

Our destination for 2017 is Green Valley Farm near Tingha, which in turn is near Inverell in Northern NSW. We will be camping and Scrapping on the weekend of September 29 to October 1.

We will have the Adventure Moto Ride departing Wisemans Ferry at 8am on Thursday September 28. Warren Sakey, once again, has a great ride planned and we will be overnighting at Quirindi. More details to follow.

As always, there will be an Adventure ride loop on the Saturday where we are sure there will be thrills and possibly a few spills. On Saturday evening, there will be plenty of fun and entertainment for the whole family, including open mic music during our celebratory dinner auction and awards ceremony.

Of course, the best part of any Scrapheap is catching up with your mates and the friendly competition between teams and raising money for Down Syndrome Australia/NSW. However raising money is not our only objective as I am sure there will be a few drinks raised over the weekend as well.

Remember it is a family weekend and Green Valley farm also offers a wealth of activities for everyone including the kids, so why not bring the whole support crew!

Catering packages and accommodation options info will be provided shortly.

The registration this year is $100 for all bikes (Scrapper or non-scrapper), Please help us make this the most successful and fun year ever.

If you can't join us, we hope you will be able to sponsor one of this year's riders or teams. Make sure you connect with other Scrappers on Facebook by joining the Scrapheap group.

www.scrapheapadventureride.com.au

Scrapheap Adventure Ride 2017: Team Inverell in the news

Much appreciated continuing support for Scrapheap Adventure Ride from Inverell, in northern NSW:

Inverell's Scrapheap Adventure Riders prepare for first Down Syndrome NSW fundraiser
Naomi Shumak, The Inverell Times, 17 May 2017

Brendon, Emi and Ashleigh Campbell

... Each year, the Scrapheap Adventure Riders take up the challenge of buying a bike for less than $1000, doing whatever is needed to make it roadworthy and taking it through the outback; all while raising funds for Down Syndrome NSW.

“I’ve blown a few bikes up, but it’s all the enjoyment and fun of it,” rider Joe Bliss said.

Local Brendon Campbell said the ride meant a lot to his family, especially daughter Emi, who has down syndrome.

“Our family has benefitted from NSW Down Syndrome Association with support and events since Emi was born. Joining this is part of our way of helping to give back,” he said ...

• Scrapheap Adventure Ride on Facebook

Scrapheap Adventure Ride 2017 - Tingha, NSW

The Scrapheap Adventure Ride is a unique fundraising event which involves motorcycle enthusiasts from all over the country purchasing a bike for no more than $1000 and doing it up for an adventure ride through the Aussie outback, all while raising money for people with Down syndrome.

In just six years the event has raised nearly $500,000 for Down Syndrome NSW.
Riders begin their journey at home or wherever they like but arrive at the same destination.

This year that destination is Green Valley Farm, Tingha, in North Western NSW, where all ‘Scrappers’ plus family and friends will meet for a weekend of fun and entertainment at a campsite from September 29 to October 1.

Our target for 2017 is 100 riders raising $100,000 for Down Syndrome NSW. So what are you waiting for? Click here to join the 2017 Scrapheap Adventure Ride.

If you’re not a rider, you can support the Scrapheap Adventure Ride and Down Syndrome NSW by sponsoring a rider or just donating to the cause.

Step Up! for Down Syndrome Sydney: Sunday 6 November

Sydney Step UP!

Sunday 6th November

Parramatta Park 

Pitt Street, Parramatta

Event time 10am – 2pm

Walk starts at 11am

Register now

Step UP! for Down syndrome is an annual event that recognises the abilities and achievements of people living with Down syndrome.

You are invited to join us and help celebrate Down syndrome awareness month.

You can help us support people with Down syndrome and their families by making a donation or by joining us at one of our Step UP! events and walking with family and friends.

The annual event brings people together to celebrate, connect and raise funds to support people living with Down syndrome.

There will be a barbecue, stalls, raffles and entertainment provided on the day.

Step Up for Down Syndrome NSW 2016: Picton this Sunday

Rain, hail or shine, Step UP! is part of a national celebration that recognises National Down Syndrome Awareness Week, 10 -16th October.

People with Down syndrome, families, friends and community members get together to show their pride, raise awareness and have fun, all while raising funds for Down Syndrome NSW.

StepUp! Picton starts at 9.30am this Sunday the 16th at Picton Botanical Gardens. The park has lots of big shady trees and a children’s playground, so bring a picnic rug and settle in to enjoy a relaxed day with family and friends.

Contact Ann Herne - trendy173@bigpond.com or register online here.  Alternatively you can help by making a donation here.

Other Step Up! for Down syndrome dates, NSW events: Register online and/or donate - links to each event If you cannot attend an event we encourage you to support those participating in the walk by making a tax deductible donation. Links to Step Up events nationally

Scrapheap Adventure Ride: Wrap Up, thanks ... and congratulations

A huge hats off to Perry Gilsenan himself who founded the Scrapheap Adventure Ride. He has sustained it very successfully for 7 years (and is working on the 8th already), tapped into his hugely supportive adventure biking community, and raised more than $500,000 for the work Down Syndrome NSW!

Here is his 'Wrap Up' of the 2016 event held last weekend, posted to the Scrapheap Adventure Ride Facebook page yesterday:

Well as the ‘mud’ settles after Scrapheap 7 its time to reflect on this year's great event.

• We had 102 bikes registered – our biggest year 
• We have over 150 including kids for dinner on Saturday night!! 
• We have raised $95,535 for Down Syndrome NSW (bringing the total raised by Scrapheap Adventure Rides to over $500,000!) 
• This is our biggest Scrapheap Adventure Ride yet!!

Firstly, thank you to all who participated including those who were unable to come due to unforeseen circumstances. You are all part of this success!!!

The fundraising effort for 2016 is very, very close to its target
 of $100,000 and has taken the 7 year Scrapheap Adventure
Ride total over half a million dollars!
 Scrapheap Adventure Ride 2016 My Cause page

Big thank you to Anita, Ken and team at Four Corners Farm Stay!! Given the extremely wet weather leading up to the event, Anita bravely put her hand up to be our Plan B. Their generosity and hospitality was remarkable!!! So many Scrappers have commented to that effect. If anyone is looking for a ride destination, we can highly recommend them!!!

We feel for Justin and Julie of Kallara Station – Tilpa, who made the difficult and correct call to defer to Nymagee. They were really looking forward to the Scrapheap being there. We will try again in the coming years!

To have to relocate Scrapheap Adventure Ride in less than 3 weeks was a massive undertaking. Scott Bridges and Claire from Down Syndrome NSW were totally committed to this task and worked so well as a team to make it a success.

The UP ClubThe welcome team from the Up Club manned the welcome tent in rain and then sunny and windy Friday afternoon and provided a Noisy Happy welcome to the riders. Thank you all for being part of the Scrapheap Crew!!

Scrapheap Adventure Ride 8
We have locked in our dates for 2017 but have yet to finalise the location. Keep an eye on Facebook and our web page.

I am humbled by the support and continual growth of Scrapheap Adventure Ride each year. It’s an absolute honour to organise and attend an event with such an awesome group of generous people!!

Perry

Founder, Scrapheap Adventure Ride

Scrapheap Adventure Ride Facebook page - check in here for the complete list of teams and the many sponsors of the event, many more fabulous photos and videos.

Scrapheap Adventure Ride 2016: Plan B looks good!

Congratulations to the Scrapheap Adventure Ride 2016 team on rolling with the change of plans required by a month of substantial rain in Western NSW, impacting directly on this weekend's major fundraising event. They have put just the right Plan B in place for this turn of events:

We have been concerned about the forecasted wet weather. Most of the roads in the Cobar Shire are closed and there is more rain predicted ... we got the call that with Tilpa lining up for its wettest September on record, we have been advised to switch to our Plan B. 

What is our Plan B? 

Anita and Ken Burcher, from Four Corners Farm Stay at Nymagee, in Western NSW, have generously put their hand up to host us on short notice. Nymagee has good wet weather access and red soil which isn’t a sticky as wet black soil. Big Thank you Ken and Anita!!!

All the ‘Scrappers’ plus family and friends will meet at Four Corners for a weekend of fun and entertainment from September 30 to October 2.

Nymagee is a small town in the north west of New South Wales, 618 kilometres (384 mi) north west of Sydney, 130 kilometres (81 mi) south west of Nyngan and 89 kilometres (55 mi) south of Cobar. It is in the Shire of Cobar. At the 2006 census, Nymagee had a population of 103. (Wikipedia).

• You can sponsor a rider or team, or donate to the fundraising campaign through the Scrapheap Adventure Ride website.

• Keep up with the weekend's activities via the Scrapheap Adventure Ride Facebook page - today's image is of the mobile coolroom being towed out from Dubbo to Nymagee. All the mod cons.

Good luck, and have a wonderful adventure to all the riders and support teams setting out in the next few days!

Step Up! for Down Syndrome 2016: NSW

Step UP! for Down syndrome is an annual event that recognises the abilities and achievements of people living with Down syndrome. You are invited to join us and help celebrate Down syndrome awareness month.  You can help us support people with Down syndrome and their families by making a donation or by joining us at one of our Step UP! events and walking with family and friends.  The annual event brings people together to celebrate, connect and raise funds to support people living with Down syndrome.  There will be a barbecue, stalls, raffles and entertainment provided on the day. Register online and/or donate - links to each event If you cannot attend an event we encourage you to support those participating in the walk by making a tax deductible donation. Links to Step Up events nationally

Scrapheap Adventure Ride 7: 30 September - 2 October

Scrapheap is back for it's roughest toughest year yet!

The Scrapheap Adventure Ride is back for it's seventh great journey through the Aussie outback.

To the many people who supported scrapheap in the past we wanted to say a huge 

Thank You!

We would love your support again this year.

Help us reach our target of $100,000, to enable people with 

Down Syndrome reach their full potential.

  Sponsor a Scrapper  

Make a Donation

This year that destination is Kallara Station, Tilpa, in western New South Wales, where all ‘Scrappers’ plus family, friends and supporters will meet for a weekend of fun and entertainment at a campsite from 30 September 30 to 2 October .

That's over 900km from Sydney!

We have 60 riders registered and have raised of $15,000 so far! The aim is to raise $100,000!

Over the past 6 years Scrapheap has raised over $400,000 for 

Down Syndrome NSW which has had a huge impact on people 

with Down syndrome and their families.

Scrapheap Adventure Ride 2016 - revving up

Planning is well advanced for the 2016 Scrapheap Adventure Ride taking place 30 September - 2 October, to Tilpa. You can follow along by joining the Scrapheap Adventure Ride Facebook page. This article focusses on the intense preparation by the dedicated Team Inverell, who have supported and promoted the Ride, and participated over several years. They deserve our support too:

Inverell riders hit road to raise awareness for down syndrome event
Michèle Jedlicka, Inverell Times, 28 July 2016
Two Inverell men have set out on an 5000 kilometre adventure to raise awareness of an annual charity event.

Mick O’Brien and Col Meacham departed Inverell for the 2016 Off Centre Rally in Mungerannie, SA, via locations such as, Bourke, the Darling River Run, Broken Hill, Flinders Ranges, Oodnadatta, Track, Simpson Desert, Birdsville Track, Strzelecki Track and Cameron Corner.

The motorcycle enthusiasts climbed aboard their older model Suzuki 185cc ag bikes to travel some of the most iconic outback roads in Australia purely to promote the September 2016 Scrapheap Adventure Ride, a now-annual event to raise funds for Down Syndrome NSW, and raise awareness of Down Syndrome ...

Order your 2016 | 2017 Entertainment™ Membership now

Down Syndrome NSW is selling Entertainment™ Memberships and with your support, the funds we raise will be used towards our programs and services.

If you haven’t already purchased your Membership this year, this is your chance to support us and be rewarded with over $20,000 of valuable offers.

Top 5 reasons to love Entertainment™

• You will be supporting our fundraising. We receive 20% of the purchase price for every Entertainment™ Membership sold.
• You can enjoy hundreds of up to 50% OFF and 2-for-1 offers from some of the best fine dining restaurants, popular cafés and family restaurants in your area.
• You’ll be ‘entertained’ all year long with valuable cinema, activities and theme park offers.
• Treat yourself to discounted eGift Cards from national retailers like David Jones, Woolworths, rebel and much more.
• Discover new places with more than 2,000 hotels and resorts, with exclusive accommodation offers.

There are four editions available for NSW which are:

• Sydney Greater West
• Sydney and Surrounds
• Newcastle, Central Coast and the Hunter Valley
• NSW South Coast

More information and link to purchase Entertainment™ Membership

Register now for the ride of the year

Registrations are now open for Scrapheap Adventure Ride 2016

Visit  the Scrapheap Adventure Ride 2016 website here and click on 'Join The Ride'

Scrapheap Adventure Ride 2016: fund raising for Down Syndrome NSW

The Scrapheap Adventure Ride 2016 (the seventh Scrapheap event) destination has been announced - Kallara Station, Tilpa NSW:

The Scrapheap Adventure Ride is a unique fundraising event which involves motorcycle enthusiasts from all over the country purchasing a bike for no more than $1000 and doing it up for an adventure ride through the Aussie outback, all while raising money for people with Down syndrome. 

In just six years the event has raised nearly $400,000 for Down Syndrome NSW.
Riders begin their journey at home or wherever they like but arrive at the same destination. 

This year that destination is Kallara Station, Tilpa, in Western NSW, where all ‘Scrappers’ plus family and friends will meet for a weekend of fun and entertainment at a campsite from September 30 to October 2.

Our target for 2016 is 100 riders raising $100,000 for Down Syndrome NSW.

• Scrapheap Adventure Ride 2016 website
• Scrapheap Adventure Ride 2016 on Facebook 

An exhilarating and unexpectedly moving finish to K2C 2016

Greg Simmons, President, Down Syndrome NSW, at the finish line for Kosciuszko to Coogee , Saturday 19 March 2016:

I had the privilege this morning of meeting Lance, Leigh, Evan and Shane and was humbled by the experience. I also met the beautiful Alicia, talked to proud parents, partners families and friends of these blokes and for a moment relived their journey through Lance's inspiring words.  

Nearly $14k raised which is fantastic but it's the awareness, the positivity, the community involvement, the connecting of members that is priceless.  

And when I thought the morning could not get anymore special a couple turned up with a beautiful 5 week old baby girl born with Down Syndrome - they had googled DS and living at Coogee saw the link to K2C. Bravely they thought they would wander down, not having had any connection to the DS community previously. The community gathered around, Lance and the guys shared their story, we talked and shared experiences and emotions as parents.  

Lance, Leigh, Evan and Shane you have created something special and powerful - thanks for bring us on your journey and can't wait till K2C 2017!  

If you have read this please show your support and appreciation of these blokes by donating here (the donation page will remain open for another 4 weeks).

Read the K2C team's own accounts of the last few days and the exciting, and unexpectedly moving finish of Kosciuszko to Coogee 2016 here.

Weekend reading and viewing: 19 - 20 March 2016

The World Down Syndrome Day 2016 edition

A small sample of the many social media promotions of the 2016 World Down Syndrome Day 
theme identified by the hashtag #‎MyFriendsMyCommunity‬ in the lead up to 21 March 2016.

World Down Syndrome Day 2016 - PREVIEW - #MyFriendsMyCommunity
Down Syndrome International, 14 March 2016
Down Syndrome International presents a global video journey promoting inclusion of people with Down syndrome. "My Friends, My Community" features interviews with children from around the world talking about their lives, friendships and aspirations. This global video event is presented for World Down Syndrome Day, Monday 21 March 2016.

My Friends, My Community campaign, European Down Syndrome Association
European Down Syndrome Association, 1 - 21 March 2016
During the ... 21 days until World Down Syndrome Day, EDSA presents you short stories about inclusion from different European countries. EDSA members have sent us their contributions with an example from their respective country.

How do you see me

Coor Down (Italy), 14 March 2016

Let's change the way we look at people with Down syndrome. AnnaRose is a nineteen year old from NJ. She's a full time college student who works part-time at a physical therapy center and enjoys basketball and swimming through the Special Olympics NJ. AnnaRose, as many people with Down syndrome, only wants to realize her potential and live a meaningful, beautiful life.

CoorDown Onlus created the campaign “How Do You See Me?” together with Down Syndrome International and with the contribution of The Down’s Syndrome Association (UK), Down Syndrome Australia, Fondation Lejeune and Les Amis d’Eléonore (France).

The video and the message it seeks to communicate has been widely praised, but you will see from the comments on its You Tube posting and other social media that some viewers and advocates are concerned about the use of an actor who does not have Down syndrome, seeing it as ableist and inappropriate. Have a look, and decide for yourself.

21 blogs
Down with Dad, 1 - 21 March 2016
Starting on the 1st March I will post a new blog each day right through until World Down’s Syndrome Day 2016 on the 21st. Each blog has been written by a different person and all have the aim of promoting and celebrating our differences ...

Kosciuszko to Coogee 2016: the finish

The 2016 ride is almost done - Lance, Shane, Leigh and Evan will ride onto Coogee Beach tomorrow morning, having finished a gruelling, but often fun ride ... catch up with the final stages via their Facebook page, and you can come along to meet them at Coogee, congratulate them, thank them and celebrate the finish.

They have been supported by wonderful sponsors and hosts along the way - spend a few minutes on the Facebook page to see the photos and stories of the riding days, the rest stops, the hospitality and the events along the way.

Having ridden up the coast road from Wollongong
(via the steep rise to Stanwell Tops), the K2C team
crossed the Hacking River on the Bundeena ferry -
the passengers would be accustomed to having cyclists
in their midst, but not many would have cycled all the
way from Mt Kosciuszko!

K2C 2016 begins ...

Last night Lance, Leigh, Shane and Evan camped out on the cold, windy summit of Mount Kosciuszko preparing themselves for the 9 day adventure ahead.

Jindabyne, Cooma, Michelago, Captains Flat, Braidwood, Nerriga, Nowra, Wollongong, Cronulla and Coogee ... plus all the towns in-between ... This is the route for K2C 2016.



We are asking everyone to please support their heroic efforts this year, with all proceeds going Down Syndrome NSW. There are many ways to get involved with K2C - You can sponsor one of the riders by making a donation, you can attend one of the events being organised or even just help spread the word through your networks.

Sponsor our Riders:
Help our riders reach their fundraising goal! First select the rider/s you wish to sponsor from the fundraisers page. You can sponsor as many of the riders as you like.

Once you are viewing the riders’ profile page simply click the ‘Give Now’ button and fill in the form to make your donation. Don’t forget to add your name and message so that they show up on the rider’s profile feed!

Attend an Event:
Two exciting events have been organised by Down Syndrome NSW to show some local support for the K2C team.

Nowra community dinner
16 March, 6pm
Bomaderry Bowling Club Bistro

A community event where you will have the chance to meet the K2C team: Lance Mitchell, Leigh Leslie, Evan Brunton and Shane Maxfield, as well as DS NSW staff Mary Mamootil and Ben Chinnock. Dinner and drinks available for order from the bistro.

• More information

Coogee picnic to welcome riders
19 March, 11am
Coogee Beach

A community picnic to welcome the riders back and celebrate their achievement! Bring your friends, bring a picnic, play some beach cricket, cheer on the team as they cross the finish line.

• More information

We would love to see you at one of the events!

Interested in learning more about K2C? Read the story behind the event.

DS NSW: World Down Syndrome Day events

March 21 is celebrated internationally with World Down Syndrome Day and this year the theme is My Friends My Community.  This global awareness day is officially observed by the United Nations and traditionally celebrated in NSW by members of our community getting together to have T4321. In Sydney we will be celebrating with our annual High T4321.  This year High T will be held at Blend Café and Gallery in Chatswood, on Saturday 19 March, to coincide with the fabulous Show Off exhibition of works by artists with Down syndrome. Across the state many of our members hold their own get togethers for T4321 and it never ceases to amaze us how inclusive and inventive you can be. In Narellan the Raymond family go all out with a high tea for up to 70 of their closest friends which sells out weeks beforehand and last year’s event in Condobolin, hosted by Jock, Nicole and Mark Leighton, hit the high notes with an aerial lolly drop from a neighbour’s plane! If you are planning an event and would like to share it online check out the My Cause World Down Syndrome Day .  We also have T4321 starter kits available – call Sam at the office on 02 9841 4444 to have a kit mailed out.

Artist Josie Webster, just back from a
group show in New York, dropped
off three of her recent woks at the
DS NSW office for the Show Off 
exhibition in Chatswood this month

Show Off art exhibition

Works by Josie Webster, Fraser Pollock, Digby Webster

and new works by emerging artists
From Monday 8 March 2016
Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm
Blend café, Dougherty Centre

7 Victor Street, Chatswood
Cost: Free

High T431 

to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day
1 - 4pm  Saturday 19 March 2016
Blend Cafe, Dougherty Community Centre

7 Victor Street, Chatswood
Cost: $60

• Register for High 4321 now

On the night of March 9 Down Syndrome NSW champion Lance Mitchell will spend a chilly night at high altitude with three mates on the summit of Mt Kosciuszko waiting for the sun to rise and the epic Kosciuszko to Coogee 2016 ride to start.

K2C Community event - Nowra

Down Syndrome NSW is hosting a community event in Nowra and would love for you to meet DS NSW staff Mary Mamootil and Ben Chinnock as well as the K2C Kosciuszko to Coogee, 2016. team. Lance Mitchell, Leigh Leslie, Evan Brunton and Shane Maxfield.

6 pm Wednesday, March 16  - Bomaderry Bowling Club

• Event page on Facebook

Save the date for the finish picnic

Come and cheer Lance Mitchell, Leigh Leslie, Shane Maxfield and Evan Brunton across the finish line as they run (or limp:) into the surf at Coogee Beach, completing their marathon ride from Mt Kosciuszko in aid of Down Syndrome NSW.

Come down for a picnic, a laugh, a game of beach cricket or a swim. Last year was a lovely afternoon in the sunshine, chatting to everyone about the ride and the amazing people we met along the way. 

Come and clap them across the line: 11am Saturday the 19th March 2016

• Event page, on Facebook

Funding campaign for Trisome Games 2016

Down Syndrome Swimming Australia has launched a funding campaign to raise $90,000 for airfares for the Australian team to compete in the Trisome Games in Italy in July.

You can see the promotional video, read about the world champion Down syndrome swimming team who have been winning international championships every year since 2004, and make a donation here.

Let's get these swimmers to Italy where they can represent our generous country and do us proud! If we can get them there, we'd have no doubt that they have the skills to bring home the medals!

Kosciuszko to Coogee, 2016

The first 800 km Mt Kosciuszko to Coogee Beach (K2C) fundraising bike ride for Down Syndrome NSW was held in 2015. It was so much fun and such a success that Lance Mitchell and his team are doing it again:

In March 2016 a small group of everyday heroes will ride from the summit of Mt Kosciuszko to Coogee Beach in support of the Down Syndrome community in NSW.

K2C is different from other charity events. 

We aren't entrepreneurs, athletes or heavily supported by corporate sponsors, we're mostly just truck drivers and tradies, jumping on a bike for a marathon ride... Because we can. Because every little bit helps. 

We don't ask for donations year round, it's just the next 6 weeks while we slog it out to make a difference in the lives of others. This is about opportunity, about equality and about positive public awareness. It's about helping those in need, who despite trying to help themselves to the best of their ability, find themselves on an unjust and un-level playing field. 

We're also talking about their families and loved ones, the organisation that supports them, entire communities of so noticeably happy and proud families, trying their best, and proud of their best. 

Be a part of something awesome this year, get behind Evan, Shane and Leigh and donate to K2C.

Follow along with the preparations and progress of the epic ride via the K2C 2016 Facebook page.  K2C events page.

3DN Movember: supporting the health of men with intellectual and developmental disabilities

3DN is the Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry at the University of NSW. 3DN staff are participating in Movember:

Our Motivation
Please support us as we turn ugly and get moving for a good cause. 

Compared to men in the general population, men with intellectual or developmental disabilities:  

• experience big barriers to accessing good health care 
• have a higher risk of mental health problems 
• are at risk of earlier death from preventable causes 

Team 3DN want to raise awareness of these issues. 

For more information see http://3dn.unsw.edu.au/