IF I CAN, YOU CAN -

ORDER YOUR RED WRIST BAND TODAY!

Wear a red wrist band (embossed with "If I can, you can") to show your support for the kids at the Gold Coast Hospital and to help Tara buy a running leg. Read Tara's letter below.

Thanks to everyone who supported Tara in the 2.25 km Junior Dash at the Gold Coast Marathon on July 5. She ran her heart out, and crossed the finishing line less than 15 minutes later. That's 8 minutes faster than last year! And this time there was no stopping to readjust her prosthetic leg, or having to do it on crutches! (Visit Tara's blog to read more.)

You can buy wrist bands right here for $2.50 each (includes postage):

Any donations made on the right hand side (click on 'support') are tax deductible. Please contact us for your tax invoice.

A BIG THANK YOU for supporting Tara's fundraising goes to: St Hilda's, Reeder Management model agency, Gold FM, Channel 10, the kids at Benowa Primary School and all those who bought bands at Australia Fair Cinemas and the Convention Centre! Tara's also holding a raffle with the kind support of Asics and Australia Fair Cinemas.

A Letter from Tara...

Hi. My name is Tara Panayis and I'm the Junior Ambassador for the Gold Coast Marathon. I'm 9 years old.

Last year, I did the 2.25km race with my crutches because I had only just got my first pretend leg after my left leg was chopped off and I hadn’t learnt to walk properly yet. I came 465th and I never gave up once. I saw some people give up straight away and I bet they were disappointed. Finishing the race is such fun – it makes you feel like you’re eating an ice-cream, and you get a medal which makes you feel like a hero. Never give up. Running is healthy for you and it isn’t hard. And if I can do it, YOU CAN DO IT!!!!

The best thing is to sign up on the marathon's website. The marathon is held on the first Sunday of July.

I’m also raising money for the children’s ward at the Gold Coast Hospital. I stayed there last Christmas Eve and the doctors and nurses are so kind but they will need money to be able to carry on helping kids get better. I’m also raising some money to buy myself a proper running leg. It has been my dream to be able to run like all my friends.

For this we’re selling red wrist bands for $2 each.

Thank you very much everyone. And thank you to all the girls who go to St Hilda's school for always helping and encouraging me so much. I know that I’m very lucky.

From
Tara Panayis


Run the Marathon
Join Tara's Newsletter
Thank You to...
Australia Fair cinemas
Asics
Gold Coast Airport Marathon
Reeder Management



About Me

I was born in Sydney in 2000 (the year of the Sydney Olympics). I was born with a condition called pseudo-arthrosis, which means my tibia (the big bone in your leg, below your knee) was born kind of bent. I had a lot of operations when I was a little kid, and I've worn a big brace on my left leg since I was 5-days-old. In March 2008 my left leg was chopped off (amputated) by my doctor.



My Dreams

I want to be an artist. It used to my dream to wear two shoes. I only ever wore one shoe before my operation. Now I can wear matching shoes, and I can run. And I can even paint my toenails. It is my dream to get a proper running leg and run like my friends.



Proudest Moment

Getting a medal for running in the Gold Coast Marathon Junior Dash. I ran in the marathon on the same day that my Godparents in London were running in fun runs to raise money for my prosthetics.