AEIOU News

Leading Brisbane Identities TAKE A HIKE

Mon, 17 Oct 11

MEDIA RELEASE

October 2011

Leading Brisbane Identities TAKE A HIKE 

Take a Hike Brisbane is back!  On Sunday 30 October 2011, a group of leading business, media and social leaders will hit the pavement to raise $200,000 for children with autism in a 40 kilometre hike that will take just over nine hours to complete.  The initiative launched in 2010 to enormous success, helping to close the funding gap AEIOU Foundation experiences for 20 children in its program, spurring the recreation of the event in both Toowoomba and Townsville and inspiring business identities and communities across the state.

 AEIOU Foundation CEO Alan Smith said Take a Hike was both a physical and mental challenge, with each hiker also aiming to raise up to $10,000.

“The hike also presents a great opportunity for the community to rally around the hikers and cheer them on.  There will be numerous vantage points during the hike, so if you’re out and about be sure to give a wave or word of encouragement. You can also check out the hiker profiles on our website and make a donation. All support is greatly appreciated,” Mr Smith said.

“In our first year in Brisbane we raised over $200,000. We went on to raise another $50,000 in Toowoomba and $40,000 in Townsville respectively, meeting our goals to close the operating deficit we experience in each region to maintain the high quality of our service.”

Mr Smith said he was overwhelmed by the response from hikers that took part in the inaugural Brisbane, Toowoomba and Townsville event. “Our participants reported that they felt it to be one of the most worthwhile experiences they have taken part in. Due to the extraordinary response we will replicate Take a Hike across Queensland to represent all of our centres, including the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast.”

“Autism is not a rare disorder, it affects 1 in 160 people, with around 350 Queensland children being diagnosed every year.  At AEIOU we are leading the way in providing life-changing early intervention that supports children with autism to achieve milestones many other kids take for granted.”

“By supporting AEIOU we are supporting families in our community, so we ask Brisbane locals to remember us on 30 October, we hope to have raised a total of $200,000 to help close the annual funding gap we experience for 20 children in our program for one full year,” Mr Smith said.

The program, delivered by Executive Excellence included an eight week self-guided program with two supervised sessions per week to ensure all participates are well prepared.

To help the Take a Hike participants reach their fundraising goal donations to individual hikers can be made by visiting http://aeiou.org.au/take-a-hike.

AEIOU Foundation is a reputable Queensland-based organisation and one of Australia’s largest providers of early intervention for children diagnosed with autism aged two and a half to five years. AEIOU provides an individually tailored program to ensure each child gets the best possible start at life to reach their full potential.

Take a Hike details:

When:                  Sunday 9^th October

                                4am – 2pm (approx) 

Where:               Starting and finishing at Captain Burke Park (Under the Story Bridge) the hike follows     a 40km loop in and around Brisbane CBD. 

Participants:

ENDS

Media enquiries:

Laura Daley, Fundraising and Communications Coordinator, p: 3320 7555, e: laura.daley@aeiou.org.au

Deborah Whiteoak, Communications Manager, p: 3320 7520, e: Deborah.whiteiak@aeiou.org.au