Townsville Community Support Ambulance Wish, through iconic mountain bike event “Paluma Push”
In a heartwarming display of community spirit and charitable giving, Townsville residents rallied together on the 15th July to support the Ambulance Wish Queensland Townsville Hub, a worthy cause aimed at fulfilling the wishes of those living with a life-limiting illness. Taking advantage of The Paluma Push, a renowned mountain bike event in the region, the indomitable Jill and Cheryl (volunteers for the organisers of the event Outer Limits Adventure Fitness) embarked on a mission to collect cans and raise funds for the charity through Containers for Change. The iconic Mountain bike event finish line, is on a cattle property at Hidden Valley where hundreds camp overnight, celebrating and socialising and where inevitably every piece of waste must be removed. Drawing parallels with the industrious bin chickens – Australian white ibises known for their scavenging habits – Jill and Cheryl humorously described their efforts as a weekend of “collecting and rummaging like Bin Chickens”. The weekend saw participants immerse themselves in the event’s festivities, demonstrating the town’s passion for both outdoor adventures and giving back to those in need.
The Paluma Push weekend proved to be a resounding success, not only in terms of the thrilling mountain bike event but also as a testament to the Townsville community’s benevolence and dedication to philanthropy. Jill and Cheryl showcased the power of collaboration, demonstrating that small actions can have a profound impact on the lives of others. As the bags of cans and recyclables were delivered to the recycling depot, the “Bin Chickens’’ collected a total of 2225 cans in an effort that raised $222.50 in support of Ambulance Wish Queensland.
Why Ambulance Wish? My friend Cheryl is a nurse, & I (Jill) had spent a few years working in aged care and eventually a foot hygienist. I saw an ad for the Ambulance Wish Townsville Charity Ball/dinner, & it reminded me of a story I saw a few years ago, about this service or a similar one. Cheryl was able to fill me in, with more detail on the service here, in Townsville. I thought then that it was a great idea. I discussed it with Cheryl & my husband & we all agreed, this is the charity this year.
Why is Ambulance Wish Queensland important?– Many terminally ill patients spend many days, months, years, confined to their beds and their rooms. It gives people in palliative care the opportunity of one last “normal” outing with loved ones, a last precious moment of joy, bringing peace to an otherwise hopeless situation. It also restores faith in our community to see such amazing volunteers, selflessly helping those who would otherwise miss out and reminds us that everyone is important & worthy of every bit of effort.
