News

Javelin raises funds for Cerebal Palsy

Tuesday, 8 March, 2011

Javelin would like to thank all of our clients, our friends and our families for their support for our participation in team Lala in the Cerebal Palsy Alliance 20Twenty Challenge.

Thanks to everyone’s generosity, we are pleased to announce that Team Lala – which also consisted of several friends and family of Javelin staffer Jacqui Wisemantel - was able to raise an amazing $61,000 to help raise funds to provide equipment for children with cerebral palsy.

Our team is named after Jacqui’s four year old daughter Lara (nicknamed Lala by her cousins) who was born with Cerebral Palsy (CP). Fortunately, Lara has very mild left hemiplegia CP which affects the fine motor skills of her left arm and leg, and whilst she will be affected to some degree throughout her entire life, she is much luckier that a lot of other kids born with CP.

Lara is doing really well and Jacqui and her husband Andrew have been privileged and humbled by the fantastic treatment they have received for Lara at the Ryde CPA Centre.

So to help raise funds for this cause which is close to all our hearts, nine Javelin staff members competed in the event – testing their endurance over a gruelling 25km walk, 2km swim and 3km kayak. We are pleased to report that all Javelin staff members are alive and well, already planning their preparation for the 2012 event.

Javelin would like to extend a special thanks to our friends and supporters at NAB, Telstra and Medibank for their meaningful financial contributions.

And for anyone that hasn;t already donated but would like to - donations are still beng accepted via the following links www.20twentychallenge.com.au/team_lala_4 or www.20twentychallenge.com.au/team_lala_5

Full match report and player reviews are featured below.

FULL MATCH REPORT

At 7.30am on Sunday morning in the gorgeous surrounds of Shelley Beach near Manly, the enthusiastic Javelin crew stripped down to their budgie smugglers ready for the 2km open water swim. With varying degrees of swimming ability, there was some pre-event concern about a couple of the team being able to make the distance without requiring some serious assistance from lifeguards. That is why it is especially pleasing to report that all staff survived.

With each team allocated their own elite swimmer to help out with some of the laps, special mention must go to the four Javos who completed their allotted 2km without tagging in the elite swimmer – Verity, Tommy G, Simon Blackie and Pen Cembala stand proud.

After drying off and a pit stop that that would have had any Formula 1 team pulling out their hair, the Javelin teams embarked on the 8km walk to Clontarf Beach. This scenic hilly walk proved a highlight, especially for the interstaters participating. The coffee stop along the route taken advantage of by at least one of the Javelin team (no prizes for guessing which one).

The kayak leg in Clontarf which followed was always going to be the most interesting – especially for those that had never even been in a kayak before, which was most of the team! Once again no-one required rescuing from the water and sharks were sited which was positive. Another short (6km) sprint and back in the kayaks for the final return leg was when the runners came into their own including Sammy D, Russ, Simon B.

JAVELIN INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW

A slightly underdone RUSSELL FEILEN strategically conserved himself in the swim leg by only completing 1km of his allocated 2km. However, this allowed him to come into his own in the walk and running legs. There is, however, an investigation pending following allegations of caffeine assistance.

Showing off his new sleek, toned physique and shaved head, SIMON BLACKIE was leaving nothing to chance in his mission to complete his inaugural 20twenty challenge. Off the grog for three weeks in the lead up, and with his family in town for the support, Simon probably takes the cake as the most consistent all round performer. He completed all elements of the event in style, and is most definitely one to watch in 2012.

PENNY CEMBALA entered the event with strong swimming credentials and did not disappoint, completing the 2km swim on her ear. Dipping into all her reserves of energy, she powered through the rest of the event and contributed to a very string team performance.

One of two Queenslanders in the field, there was always going to be a query about how MELANIE NEILSON adjusted to the cooler southern climate. However, her local knowledge of the conditions from several years living near Manly helped – impressing in all aspects of the event. Mel also sent a benchmark for her impressive revolutionary stretching techniques.

SAMUEL DUNCAN always had question marks over his ability to perform in the wet, and his event preparation was hindered by a poisonous sea urchin as well as some serious alcohol consumption on a recent boys trip to Thailand. Despite these obstacles, Sam exceeded himself by performing solidly across all legs of the event. •

The rookie of the Javelin team VERITY BOULTON was always going to be the one to beat given her pedigree as a surf lifesaver. And she did not disappoint, blitzing all comers in the swim leg and performing solidly across all other legs. One to watch for 2012.

Despite being the most experiences campaigner in the Javelin team, there were serious question marks about GREG CAMPBELL going into the swim leg. But some serious pre-event training, and some seriously effective team strategy allowed Cambo to conserve himself for the remainder of the event. And despite going slightly off course in the kayak leg, Cambo finished the event strongly.  

As the second Queenslander in the field, TOM GALLIMORE found the Sydney conditions to be a tad cold for his liking. Despite the climatic challenges, and possibly overdoing the carb loading the night before by consuming approx. 2 x kilos of pasta at Manyly Italian, he got the job done in the swim leg superbly and true to his form in the office - proved himself an outstanding team player finishing the other two legs strongly and helping gee along his teammates.  

Twenty20 veteran JACQUI WISEMATEL - the only second timer of the Javos – had lofty expectations upon her and she absolutely layed down the gauntlet for the rest of the Javelin team… finishing well and truly ahead of the rest of the team. Clearly the one to beat in 2010.