Category: Fundraising

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.

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.

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.