Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Felicity in the media

Last week Miss Fliss once again stole the limelight - our growing celebrity had her photo snapped and Tanya was interviewed for an article that made it into Friday's (24th September) Manly Daily newspaper.
The article titled "Felicity learning to call tune" was helping to promote the Up, Up, Up, Songs For Felicity Vol 1 album that is available on iTunes, with the profits made from sales of the album going directly to Felicity.


"Tanya Costin said her little girl Felicity, 10, was a different girl since she's undergone the Son-Rise Program.
Tanya is in the throes of raising money to support a trip to the US in November, a trip to gain further study into this method for socialising children with severe autism.
"My daughter had no social skills before we started this program," she said. "But now she will look at me and say a few words. She is a different little girl."
The Scotland Island resident said she has brought, and will continue to bring, the knowledge she has gleaned from the US back to carers in Australia.
"My friend Nadia Ackerman has put together a CD which we are selling to raise money for this trip,' she said.
The album is called Songs for Felicity Volume 1.
Nadia is known to locals as a former northern beaches resident, a jazz singer, who has lived and worked amid the music industry in New York for the past decade. Tanya said the CD was a quality collection of artists and songs.
The premise of Son-Rise is based on social interaction.
"The child is the leader of the program," she said. "There is only ever one other adult in the room and we do things on her time."
"If she wants to flap her hands I will sit with her and flap my hands. Not imitating but joining her."
Tanya described her daughter as happy and beautiful. "Now she is able to follow simple instructions."
The album can be found in iTunes be searching Songs for Felicity Volume1. Information on Felicity can be found at www.intellectualdisability.org.

Monday, September 20, 2010

The Sydney Running Festival results!

What a HUGE effort from all our runners on Sunday!! Go Guys!!
Sydney put on a glorious day and the city was shut down to make way for the 8488 entrants in the Half Marathon and 3169 entrants in the Full Marathon. Among them was Jocelyn, Nicole and Tim ready to pound the pavement for Miss Felicity.


Results:
Tim - 42km Full Marathon: 3hrs 21mins
Jocelyn - 21km Half Marathon: 1hr 58mins


Jocelyn wanted to share this with us: "Have survived my first Half Marathon and what an amazing experience! Was really pleased with my time of 1 hour 58 minutes and enjoyed (nearly) every minute of it. No dodging people, a gorgeous run over the bridge and around the city, finishing at the Opera House with hundreds of people cheering you on - what's not to like?! A picture perfect day too with not a breath of wind. Fingers crossed for the Melbourne Half in 3 weeks! Thanks everyone for your support, it's incredibly motivating."

We are still to do a final check of money raised thanks to the amazing efforts of these runners (it always takes a little while for everything to 'register' in our fundraising accounts) and will be sure to update the counters as soon as possible.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!

Friday, September 17, 2010

Go, Go, Go Daddy!

Just one sleep to go before Tim, Jocelyn and Nicole are taking on their runs!!!

So in a bit of celebration mixed with some sweet motivation I have been allowed to share with you a gorgeous song that Tim's 7 year old daughter, Ashleigh, wrote for him.

It is set to some music from Joseph and his technicolour dreamcoat...but still good even if you don't know the tune.

Go Go Go Dad
Go Go Go Dad
Go Go Go Daddy
You are running a run
Go GO GO Daddy
You will be number One
Go... Daddy
You're beating the rest
Go...Daddy
We all love you the best

When you want to retire
and your feet are on fire
There is only one thing to do
and that is to know that we all love you!

Think of us
Run with a bus
and win that race
at an astonishing pace!

Ashleigh (7yrs)

How can anyone not feel motivated when reading this!?!
Thanks Ashleigh for sharing this with us and we also wish your dad all the best!!

To Support all our runners by donating just click the below button - Thank you!







Go, Go, Go Tim, Nicole and Jocelyn!!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Jocelyn's countdown to (her 2nd) race day!

Jocelyn ran in the City2Surf, and will now take on the Sydney Half Marathon on Sunday before she runs the Melbourne Half Marathon in 3 weeks time - AWESOME!

"Not long to go and training was going great till a cold struck over a week ago. Have only done one light jog in over a week and felt very ordinary :( So my aim is to just get to the finish line then get 100% better for the Melbourne Half Marathon in just over 3 weeks time. I'm sure the thought of Felicity will motivate us all - Good Luck to Tim and Nicole, I'll be thinking of you!" - Jocelyn



Jocelyn also says: "I'm running for Felicity to fundraise so we can continue the fantastic improvements in her life due to the Son-Rise Program...." If you would like to read more about why Jocelyn has chosen to run for Felicity please click HERE

To Support Jocelyn and all our runners by donating just click the below button - Thank you!





Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Why is Tim running for Felicity?

"With only a few days to go until the Sydney Marathon I am running over 65kms a week and doing a bikram yoga session to stretch"...
I have always wanted to run a marathon and as we've known Felicity since she was born I decided to join the Marathon of Autism team. If you are going to commit yourself to train and then run 42kms it is good to do it for a reason."
- Tim

This is the 42km course Tim will be running for Felicity on Sunday:



To Support Tim and all our runners by donating just click the below button - Thank you!





Monday, September 13, 2010

Less than a week to go!!!

Where have the past few weeks disappeared to? In just 5 short sleeps the mighty Jocelyn, Tim and Nicole will be taking part in the Sydney Running Festival for Felicity.


Jocelyn and Nicole will be taking on the 21km half marathon and Tim will be running his first ever full 42km marathon! WOW!
These are super AWESOME efforts from these courageous runners and a blessing that they wish to do it in support of Miss Fliss. So here is your chance to show them your support... below are all the details you need to sponsor either Tim, Nicole, Jocelyn or all three by making a donation to Felicity's Son-Rise Program.

PAYPAL:
Donation via credit card can be made by clicking the below yellow button (you do not need a paypal account to do this)








DIRECT DEPOSIT:
Account Name: T J Costin
BSB Number: 944 300
Account Number: 012 598 461

NOTE: If you would like a receipt, for tax purposes, please send your email address, postal address and a copy of the direct deposit transaction to - tanya@intellectualdisability.org

CHEQUE:
Cheques are to be made out to: T J Costin
Please post them to:
Running the Marathon of Autism
T J Costin
P.O. Box 304
Church Point
NSW, 2105

NOTE: If you would like a receipt, for tax purposes, please include a note with your email address & postal address

Thanks so much & GOODLUCK you AMAZING runners!!

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Running in Queenstown



How about a nice little early morning training run in Queenstown, New Zealand? Pretty beautiful! I have relocated my last weeks of training to the land of the long white cloud! Stunning. Thinking of our runners as they taper for the Sydney Running Festival this weekend - good luck everyone! Maryke

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Weekend Plans?

What are you up to this weekend? Catching up with friends? Doing a bit of spring cleaning? Just taking it easy?


If you are happen to be in Victoria, Australia on Sunday why not pop into Sugar and Spice Children's Market. This gorgeous handmade market, located in the heated St Ambrose Hall in Woodend, has something for everyone - even the dads!


Free face painting, cupcakes and coffee, a 'Dad's Corner', and an absolute plethora of stunning handmade goodies for kiddies on sale from a wide variety of talented sellers check out what's on offer HERE.... and with only 106 days until the Jolly guy in the red suit pops by this is the perfect chance to grab some Christmas goodies!

All profits raised from this weekends market will be kindly donated to Felicity so from 10am to 2pm happy shopping!!