Author: Adam Blatch

Sharks Giving ‘From the Heart’

Posted on | by Adam Blatch

The National Rugby League Cronulla Sharks have announced its ‘From the Heart’ Giving Partners for 2023. We are thrilled to announce that Feel the Magic is one of four charity partners chosen.

The panel chose From the Heart to support Gymea Community Aid and Information Services, the Sutherland Hospital, Community Radio 104.1 CHY FM Coffs Harbour, and Feel the Magic.

“The Cronulla Sharks appreciate there are countless charities and not-for-profit organisations in need of support, however our panel of NRL and Women’s players, Great Whites, Board and community members have selected four extremely worthy Giving Partners for the 2023 season, with each to receive a high-quality experience,” Sharks Have Heart Community Engagement Lead Rachal Allan explained.  

Financial support offered through the From the Heart partnership will go towards helping send more kids to Feel the Magic Camps.

Adam Blatch Feel the Magic Chief Executive Officer said “We are so grateful to be one of the chosen From the Heart charity partners. Their support will help us raise awareness and much-needed funds to send more grieving kids to Camp to learn the tools and strategies to live healthily with grief and lessen the feelings of isolation and loneliness that grief often presents. We are also hoping to attract new volunteers to help us run our Camps. We extend our sincere thanks to the Cronulla Sharks and panellists for their generous support and this amazing opportunity”.

For more information about Camps, research and resources, see our website and our Grief Resource Hub.

Luke Parker Joins Feel the Magic as Proud Ambassador

Posted on | by Adam Blatch

Professional Australian rules footballer and Sydney Swans co-captain Luke Parker joins Feel the Magic as a proud Ambassador.

Luke is an accomplished footballer with impressive achievements. He has graciously pledged to support Feel the Magic and help us reach more families who need us.

We were fortunate to have Luke at a recent Camp Magic. He said, “For me, it’s about being able to give back in some way… and to be able to help where possible. I’m glad I’ve finally been able to come to camp and be a part of what it’s all about”.

Luke was inspired by the Campers’ resilience, the friendships and the bonds created.

“To come on board and be a part of the whole two-three days was something I will never forget. There were some sessions that were really moving…to build a bond with your Camper and see them grow and see them create friends and become really comfortable in the environment is something that was really inspiring.”

We are proud and immensely grateful to welcome Luke to our Feel the Magic community. Luke joins us to help raise awareness and funds to reach more grieving kids and families.

Adam Blatch, Chief Executive Officer Feel the Magic said “to have someone like Luke who is generous with his time to help us, help more kids, is a tremendous gift. His energy and commitment to give back is remarkable”.

“1 in 20 kids who have just lost a parent let alone a sibling who don’t know this is available or who are dealing with things on their own, I’d love just to help anyone I can to get them to Camp. The experience that I have had is 99% of the kids have gotten something from this camp and have all said they’d love to come back as well”. – Luke Parker

Follow Luke Parker here. For more information about Feel the Magic Camps, resources and research to help grieving kids heal, see our website and Grief Resource Hub.

About Feel the Magic Camps

We have a range of face-to-face and virtual Camps to help grieving kids face, feel and heal through their grief, no matter where they are.

All our Camps are run by trained mental health professionals and developed by clinical psychologists and people with a lived experience of grief.

At our Grief Resource Hub, you’ll find parent and guardian grief resources, connection activities for families, books, videos and TED talks, plus other grief support services.

Feel the Magic partner Erebus unveils Gen3s ahead of Supercars Championship

Posted on | by Adam Blatch

Our friends and loyal partner Erebus Motorsport recently launched their brand new Gen3 vehicles for this year’s Supercars Championship.

The new-look team launched its campaign with drivers Brodie Kostecki and Will Brown at Warner Bros. Movie World on the Gold Coast.

Erebus Motorsport launch Gen3 supercars
Betty Klimenko AM, owner Erebus Motorsport and Feel the Magic Ambassador

Feel the Magic has gratefully been the Erebus team’s charity partner since 2018, also supported by the Shaw Partners Foundation, featured proudly on the Supercars.

Betty Klimenko AM, owner of Erebus Motorsport and loyal Feel the Magic ambassador, along with the Shaw and Partners Foundation have pledged their support and hundreds of thousands of dollars to Feel the Magic over the years.

Feel the Magic Chief Executive Officer Adam Blatch is grateful to Erebus Sport and the Shaw and Partners Foundation’s generosity.

“We feel very privileged to be a charity partner with Erebus Motorsport and are so grateful for the support they provide to Feel the Magic and the grieving kids we serve,” Blatch said. “What the Shaw and Partners Foundation provides to charities is remarkable and we are very appreciative”.

The Erebus team will hit the track in their Gen3 Camaros at Sydney Motorsport Park on February 22.

We wish the Erebus team well for the 2023 season and look forward to being a charity partner again in 2023.

Strike out suicide

Saving lives: One ‘boxing strike’ at a time

Posted on | by Adam Blatch

Sadly 8.6 Australians die every day from suicide. Suicide is the leading cause of death for Australians between the ages of 15 and 44.

Strike Out suicide

The inaugural national Strike Out Suicide 14 day challenge starts soon on Monday 5 December and Feel the Magic is a proud and grateful beneficiary of the challenge.

Founded by former professional footballer and TV presenter Troy Gray – who was himself affected by suicide at the height of his sporting career – is making it his mission to unite people across Australia to Strike Out Suicide.

Media Release – Strike Out Suicide 2022

REGISTER NOW FOR THE NATIONAL STRIKE OUT SUICIDE

14-DAY CHALLENGE FROM 5 – 18 DECEMBER 2022

SAVING LIVES: ONE ‘BOXING STRIKE’ AT A TIME

8.6 Australians die every day by suicide.  That’s more than double the road toll.

Suicide is the leading cause of death for Australians between the ages of 15 and 44.

The 14 day challenge starting on Monday 5 December 2022 is an annual campaign encouraging participants across Australia to complete daily boxing strikes to save lives, remove the stigma around mental health and inspire others through connection, hope, fitness, and fun.

Participants are invited to throw as many boxing strikes as they can during the two week fundraising period to bring awareness to the growing incidence of suicide; in addition to removing the stigma and educating the public.  Funds raised via this year’s Strike Out Suicide challenge will benefit the charity initiatives* supported by the Good Blokes Society – helping men to connect, and openly discuss their mental well-being.

A great way to spend the first two weeks of December, the Strike Out Suicide challenge will advance your fitness, improve your mood, reduce stress, and benefit your mental health.  Each participant will throw as many boxing strikes as they can daily during the fundraising period – no boxing experience or equipment is needed… and shadow boxing is fine!

Pick your challenge – how many strikes can you complete each day.

Track your progress – track your daily strikes and monitor your fundraising progress.

Make a difference – the more ‘strikes’ you throw, the more you and everyone you prospers.

Founded by former professional footballer and TV presenter Troy Gray – who was himself affected by suicide at the height of his sporting career – is making it his mission to unite people across Australia to Strike Out Suicide.

* The charity initiatives to benefit from Strike Out Suicide are Outside The Locker Room and Feel The Magic.  Outside the Locker Room is a registered charity providing mental health education and welfare support to sporting clubs, schools and workplaces across Australia.  Feel The Magic is an Australian charity providing early intervention grief education programs for kids aged 7 to 17, who are experiencing pain and isolation due to the death of a parent, guardian, or sibling.

Would you like a world without suicide?  We would.
Together we can save lives… Together, we can #StrikeOutSuicide

WATCH:  A personal video message from the Founder of Strike Out Suicide.

Accept the challenge and register now.

Good Blokes Society Walk for 24

Good Blokes raising money for grieving kids

Posted on | by Adam Blatch

Building relationships with Good Blokes, giving to charity partners (like us), and pounding the pavement to raise money to send grieving kids to camp. Now that sounds like a bunch of Good Blokes!

Our friends at Good Blokes Society are doing the Ozwide Carbon Good Blokes Walk for 24, walking 24 hours for men’s health with fundraising proceeds going to their charity partners, including Feel the Magic, and the GBS Members Wellness Fund.

Over the course of the coming months, they are hoping to raise $75,000 for Feel the Magic to send 50 kids to camp in Victoria next year.

Good Blokes Society walk the walk for men to be open and honest when discussing mental health and wellness. Good Bloke Society provides a range of safe and secure platforms for men to create and develop their social and business relationships.

Feel the Magic CEO Adam Blatch recently caught up with Good Blokes Society Founder Shaun Wallis to find out more about the organisation, the Walk for 24 event, and the amazing fundraising efforts of their members and donors.

Read a snippet of their chat below or listen to the full interview here.

Adam Blatch, CEO Feel the Magic chats to Good Blokes Society Founder Shaun Wallis

What does Good Blokes Society do?

We bring men together to create positive business and social relationships, with a strong and holistic approach to all sorts of men’s health, mental health, and any challenge a male might go through in life. We are a community of good blokes that just want to support each other, enjoy our passions, and help each other where we can.

How do you plan on raising $75,000 for Feel the Magic?

We run lots of different events where we talk about our charity partners, about fundraising, and we run auctions and raffles. We were introduced to Feel the Magic by some of our longer-term members and it is an organisation doing wonderful things, so we are more than happy to grow a relationship with Feel the Magic and contribute to funding a camp next year. We are also doing a walk for 24 hours for Feel the Magic and other charity partners next week.

How did you decide to partner with Feel the Magic?

Relationships is the short answer. We are a relationship business and as I say to members “the more you put in, the more you get back”. Being at some Feel the Magic events, and as a father of two young kids, I felt the magic you create and heard some of the stories that some of the kids have related to. That is the purpose to support Feel the Magic.

What is a highlight of a fundraising experience you’ve had so far?

A highlight has probably been the Good Blokes Walk for 24. After such a disastrous period which was caused through the pandemic for a business that is face to face and built on connection, there was uncertainty about whether this business can grow or flourish.

It was after the third lockdown or so that I decided to go and walk for 24 hours to raise money and awareness. Other members joined, creating a bond with those guys, the support from members and the amount of donations we raised was a highlight of what was a difficult year. I thank COVID for that now and it is now in its third year.

We thank Good Blokes Society for their partnership with Feel the Magic to help us support more grieving kids and teens. Find out more about them here.

Photo credit the Good Blokes Society.

Erebus Motorsports #99

Kostecki/Russell and Geoff Booth Foundation raise $10,000 for Feel the Magic

Posted on | by Adam Blatch

Feel the Magic is immensely grateful to Erebus Motorsport’s Brodie Kostecki and David Russell, who, as part of a pledge by The Geoff Booth Foundation, raised $10,000 for Feel the Magic.

The Geoff Booth Foundation pledged $10,000 for the #99 to reach the Top Ten Shootout at the Bathurst 1000, where Kostecki qualified the car in ninth.

Read more about the incredible legacy left by Geoff Booth and Annie Tan, and the impressive efforts of Erebus Motorsport’s Brodie Kostecki and David Russell in this release.

News release by Erebus Motorsports, Geoff Booth Foundation and Feel the Magic

Erebus Motorsport’s Brodie Kostecki and David Russell have raised $10,000 for the team’s Official Charity Partner Feel the Magic, as part of an incentive from the Geoff Booth Foundation.

The Geoff Booth Foundation pledged $10,000 for the #99 to reach the Top Ten Shootout at last weekend’s Bathurst 1000, where Kostecki qualified the car in ninth on Friday.

“The Geoff Booth Foundation was delighted to have the opportunity to partner up with both the Erebus Motorsport Team and Feel The Magic for this fantastic initiative,” Foundation Member Rhys Kinder said.

“We saw an opportunity to not only provide an extra incentive to see the 99 car reach the Bathurst 1000 Top 10 Shootout but also support the fantastic work the Feel the Magic team do in providing grief counselling programs for kids aged 7 to 17 who are experiencing isolation due to the death of a loved one.”

The Foundation was created in 2009 and celebrates the lives of its founders Geoff Booth and Annie Tan, who both passed away due to cancer.

The couple had invested wisely, spent modestly and with no children, left their life savings to be distributed on an ongoing basis to charities in need.

“Both Geoff and Annie Tan would be proud to support such a great cause,” Kinder continued.

Feel the Magic is an Australian non-profit who provide early intervention grief education programs for children aged 7 to 17 who have experienced the loss of a parent, guardian or sibling. 

Their free camps aim to help kids manage their grief through teaching practical coping strategies to grieve in a healthy and positive way; ultimately helping reduce the mental health challenges associated with childhood grief.

“Feel the Magic is only able to provide our free camps and resources thanks to amazing and generous donors such as the Geoff Booth Foundation,” Feel the Magic CEO Adam Blatch said.

“The donation will assist kids to Camp Magic so we can help them to face, feel and heal in their grief.

“We are extremely grateful for this amazing donation.”

Erebus Motorsport is thrilled to work alongside Feel the Magic and is grateful to the Geoff Booth Foundation for their generous contributions.

Image: Erebus Motorsport, Facebook, Mount Panorama Circuit Bathurst 10 October.