Category: Events

Two people in dresses standing in front of a blue snow flake screen smiling

A Magical Night of Gratitude and Generosity

Posted on | by Michelle Wright

The 9th Night of Magic Winter Wonderland Gala dinner transported guests into a realm of enchantment while creating a meaningful impact.

A sincere thanks to everyone there. The atmosphere was incredible and we hope you walked away feeling inspired. We sure did.

Raising money to send kids to Camp Magic

Your company and kindness at this extraordinary event raised over $150k for grieving kids and families to attend camps and programs, providing them with support and a community during their grief journey.

We are still open for donations if you’d like to help us edge closer to our goal of raising $225,000.

If you are inspired to help, please click on the link and donate, or share with others who could also support Feel the Magic – great timing with tax time just around the corner! All donations over $2 are tax-deductible.

This thank you message is from some of our Campers.

Congratulations to our lucky winners:

1st Prize: Luke Loseby

2nd Prize: Matthew Kelly

3rd Prize: Pat Eagleton

4th Prize: Arwel Roberts

From all of us at Feel the Magic, and the many families we support, we say a huge heartfelt thank you to everyone at Night of Magic – our Masters of Ceremonies Dimity Clancy and Hayley Kime, event partners, donors, volunteers and supporters for helping us do what we do to serve our community.

View the photo gallery here.

Thank you to all involved in Night of Magic

Our Winter Wonderland Night of Magic gala dinner would not be possible without the support of our sponsors and partners. Thank you to Shaw and Partners Financial Services, WIM Resources, Alceon, ForteIS, Metway Developments, Metro Solutions, Southern Steel, Alpin, Kelly & Partners Chartered Accountants, Acumen Strata, St George Bank, Doltone House, Batch Brewing Co, Southtrade International, From Sunday and Icons of Sport.

Thank you to those who generously donated the many auction and raffle prizes. From unique experiences to getaways, gift packs, sporting memorabilia, and much more, we had a raft of amazing items and prizes on offer during the evening.

To our amazing and giving volunteers, we are so incredibly grateful for your support at Night of Magic, at every Camp and fundraising event. You continue to inspire us. You all took time out of your day and evening to make our Winter Wonderland possible. A heartfelt thank you. Feel the Magic would not be possible without you.

A special thank you goes to our Night of Magic committee for their time and energy to help make the night a success. Thank you, Adam Blatch, Kristy Thomas, Sean Preece, Kevin Smaller, Felicity Thomas, Harriet Gerrard, Tricia Gerigk and Sarah Askew.

We acknowledge our Mission Partner the Saunders Family Foundation for their continued support for Feel the Magic. From the very beginning, their support has funded numerous Camp Magic programs and fundraising events. Monica and Betty have continued the proud Saunders family legacy of supporting those in need.

We could not be more grateful and appreciative of their continued and impactful support. Thank you for your belief and support in the Feel the Magic vision.

The City2Surf is back!

Posted on | by Adam Blatch

Date: Sunday 13th August 2023

The World’s Largest Fun Run – The City2Surf – is back in Sydney on Sunday 13 August 2023.

It’s time to sign up, hit the pavement, and start fundraising for Feel the Magic. Join Team Feel the Magic, and our sponsor SDG, for the 2023 City2Surf and help raise vital funds for children who are grieving the loss of a parent or sibling.

The SDG Feel the Magic team is aiming to reach its goal of $50,000, but we need YOU to help us get there.

This year if you register using the SDG team registration (follow the details below), the first 30 people who commit to fundraising for Feel the Magic, will receive FREE ENTRY to the City2Surf, sponsored by SDG, along with a FREE Team Magic SDG Singlet and race bib.

Participants who raise over $250 will go into the draw to win a unique Feel the Magic prize, more details to come soon.

Follow the steps below on how to register for the event and start fundraising.

Step 1 – join the “Feel the Magic” team and enter the race here:

Register – City2Surf

Password is: FTMSDG2023

Join the YELLOW start group (unless you are a serious previous runner)

Do not select any ‘extras’ in the process (our sponsor is only covering registration, bib & a race singlet). 

Step 2 – set up your fundraising page and aim to raise $500 per person

Registration link is: 

Start Fundraising

Then join team (SDG) and set up your fundraising page. We suggest a fundraising goal of $500 to $1,000.

When you join Team Magic, you are showing the world that you can help children face, feel, and heal in their grief of a parent or sibling loss. You will be helping them to access strategies and resources to help them grieve and to connect with a supportive community.

If you are passionate about supporting grieving children, then joining Team Magic and participating in City2Surf is an excellent way to make a difference. Register today and help more kids get access to the grief support programs that they need to heal.

If you have any questions please contact Sarah Askew, Fundraising Manager, on 02 4508 2025. 

See you at the start line!

C2S 2022 – SDG FTM
C2S 2022 – SDG FTM
C2S 2022 – SDG FTM
C2S 2022 – SDG FTM
C2S 2022 – SDG FTM
C2S 2022 – SDG FTM
Group of six men in cycling gear on top of a hill

Magic Ride 2023 aims to raise $150k to send 100 kids to Camp Magic

Posted on | by Michelle Wright

Magic Ride kicks off at 8.30 am on Thursday 13 April 2023. 33 riders will cycle 500km over four days to raise $150,000 to fund 100 kids to attend Camp Magic, Feel the Magic’s signature three-day camp for grieving kids.

Riders will cross the finish line to the cheers of Campers at Camp Magic, Birrigia Outdoor School, Tharwa on Sunday 16th April at 1.50 pm.

Raising funds to support grieving kids and families

Adam Blatch, Chief Executive Officer Feel the Magic, who is also part of the dedicated riding crew, is grateful to the 33 riders, their donors and support crew for their commitment and effort.

“1 in 20 kids in Australia will experience the death of a parent before they turn 18, that’s just over 300,000 children or one in every classroom. Based on this, we are all likely to know a family affected by parent loss. In addition to this, kids also experience sibling loss.

Bereaved young people commonly suffer challenges including anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation, which contributes to the nearly one-quarter of young people in Australia who experience some form of mental health challenge. We aim to reduce the mental health challenges associated with childhood grief and provide the education, support and community for kids to live healthily with grief”.

Mike Tomalaris, Australian news and sports presenter has anchored the world’s biggest annual sporting event on Australian television for 26 years and seen the Tour de France coverage develop to be the spectacle it is today.

Mike will join the riding crew on day four, Sunday 16th April cycling 67km to arrive at the finish line at Camp Magic, Birrigai Outdoor School, Tharwa ACT.

Magic Ride – A Vital Community Fundraiser

From its beginnings in 2020, Magic Ride has become a vital community fundraiser to help fund camps, research and resources for grieving kids and families. All Feel the Magic camps, programs and resources are free of charge (and some camps are virtual) so there is no barrier to families seeking the support they need.

Since 2020, the generosity of Magic Riders, sponsors and supporters has enabled Feel the Magic to:

  • Raise almost $282k so far
  • Fund 4 Camp Magic camps
  • Educate 188 children through the Camp Magic experience

Read more about Magic Ride 2023 and Feel the Magic in the press release.

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.

Melissa Wu Feel the Magic Ambassador

Melissa Wu joins Feel the Magic as Ambassador and 1-in-20 Challenger

Posted on | by Adam Blatch

Australian Olympic and World Champion medalist Melissa Wu joins Feel the Magic as Ambassador and takes on the 1-in-20 Challenge!

Melissa has faced many challenges throughout her life and career but none as tough as losing her younger sister Kirsten. Melissa experienced bereavement after her sister died 8 years ago. Melissa said “it something that never goes away, you just learn to live it with it, and it’s made me really value the things that are important in my life. I guess I just learnt how to make every day count”.

At a Feel the Magic Family Day Camp this year Melissa said, “I am here to help kids, share my story and hopefully they take away something from my journey.”

Melissa Wu Ambassador, Feel the Magic

We are proud and privileged to welcome Melissa to our FtM community and excited that Melissa will join us to raise money for grieving kids this October in the 1-in-20 Challenge.

If you would like to donate to Melissa’s 1-in-20 team, CLICK HERE.

What is the 1-in-20 Challenge?

The Challenge is to walk or run 120km this October to help fund Camps for the 1 in 20 kids left behind after the devastating loss of their Mum or Dad.

1-in-20 Challenge helps fund free camps for bereaved children

In a media statement released 15 September 2022, Adam Blatch, CEO, Feel the Magic said, “The 1-in-20 fundraising challenge is one of the most important events for Feel the Magic because, thanks to all the participants every year, we are able to run our highly successful and life changing camps for bereaved children – all free for families who need this support.

“It is through our Camps that kids are taught practical and healthy coping strategies to help them through their grief. Since we launched Camp Magic in 2015, Feel the Magic has helped grieving kids rebuild their confidence and self-respect through connecting with other kids just like them and finding a place where they feel safe to face, feel and heal in their grief. Raising $1,500 will sponsor a grieving child to go to Camp Magic and that’s an opportunity to change a kid’s life.

Camps can be life changing for kids and parents

Kelly Drover’s son, James has attended Camp Magic and Kelly herself has been a mentor to other grieving children at previous camps. Kelly says, “Feel the Magic will change your life and make you realise you’re not alone on this journey. You are part of a family who supports you and helps you to live with your grief. The biggest thing for him [James] was to be around other kids who just get it…[At camp] he was in this safe space with other kids that, even if it was unspoken, there was just this connection”.

Taking on the Challenge during October Mental Health Awareness Month

Adam Blatch further said, “October also happens to be Mental Health Awareness Month which is a good reminder for all. Childhood bereavement can lead to a life-time of mental health challenges if not supported with programs and strategies like what we teach the kids at Camp. And we know how much exercise and fresh hair can help with mental health. I encourage people to sign up to the 1-in-20 challenge, do it for your own mental health as well as to help Feel the Magic on our journey and commitment to helping grieving children to reach their full potential without the devastating effects that childhood bereavement can have.”

Feel the Magic 1-in-20 challenge

The 1-in-20 Challenge is back!

Posted on | by Michelle Wright

We’re inviting you to join our 1-in-20 Challenge this October – its just the excuse to take a break, get active in the outdoors and support others in our community.

What Is The 1-in-20 Challenge?

The challenge is to walk or run 120km this October to help fund Camps for the 1 in 20 kids left behind after the devastating loss of their Mum or Dad.

In Australia, just over 300,000 children will lose a parent before they reach the age of 18. To put this into perspective, there is most likely a child grieving the loss of a parent in every class at school.

Based on these statistics, we all know a family struggling with grief. Those families deserve support and we’re here to help.

In fact, we can all help!

Walk or run 120km for grieving kid and families, or if 120km is more than challenge for you, start by aiming to raise just $1 for every km you walk or run, or set yourself a $120 goal… but the sky is the limit!

Last year some teams and individuals raised over $3,500!

Together, we can fund Camps, research and resources to help grieving kids heal – we’ll also give our own mental and physical health a boost by getting outside and getting active.

3 Easy Steps To Sign Up

Signing up is easy.

  1. Set up your profile as an individual or as a team and invite others to participate.
  2. Tell your colleagues, family and friends and ask for donations
  3. Feel good knowing every step your take will change the lives of grieving kids.

Plus, take these three easy steps to sign up before 1 October for your chance to win $500 worth of Havok Athletic activewear!

Sign up now! And the next time you feel like skipping that run or walk, you can push through, knowing you’re changing lives with every step.