“We can’t help everyone, but we can help someone”.
At the age of 25, the concept of giving back and helping others was confusing. So many charities, so many people in need, where should I start and how do I choose? After watching Peter speak that day, I knew I had to just do something to help someone. And I chose to get involved in his charity, Hands Across The Water. Now I want to highlight something – no matter what the charity, what the cause is, what type of volunteering you’re doing or if you simply donate some money, the point is to pick something and contribute. And then see the flow on effect in your own life.
Since choosing to volunteer and give my time and funds (and trust me those funds were very limited 15 years ago so it wasn’t much), my life has changed in ways I can’t even describe. I’ve now been to Thailand around 8 times, sometimes leading groups of volunteers and other times simply to visit the kids.
The most asked question I get about this volunteer work is “isn’t it just so sad that it breaks your heart and you want to bring all the kids home with you?”. And my answer is this – yes their stories are heartbreaking. From losing their entire family in the Tsunami, to being abused or abandoned by their loved ones, to being refused education and forced to work from 5 years of age to provide for their family. Their stories are heartbreaking, but their lives now, supported by Hands Across the Water, are safe. Sure they don’t get lots of presents under the Christmas tree each year, and they don’t get individual attention from their mum or dad, but they are loved, they are fed, they have the opportunity of education, they have a safe roof over their head and they have a future they could never have dreamed of.
Personally for me, being involved with the kids has improved my relationships, reminded me of what’s important when I’ve faced struggles and now it’s impacted how I raise my little girl. I got to take her to Thailand this year and teach her that not all kids are as privileged as her. Watching her make friends for life (even without being able to properly communicate with different languages) was something I’ll cherish forever, and my hope is that she’ll continue to support Hands as she grows up.
But why am I telling you all this? Well our incredible speaker, Peter Baines, has just started his biggest challenge ever. He’s running 1411kms across Thailand to mark the 20th anniversary of the Boxing Day Tsunami, which is of course when his work in Thailand first begun. Just picture this for a moment – 30-40 degree heat, 60kms or so per day, running for 8,9,10 hours a day, for 26 days straight. I can’t put that mammoth challenge into words, but what I can do is bring attention to the incredible work Peter and the Hands team do every single day. Peter changed the course of my life with that keynote and it’s a gift I can never repay him. But I would love you to follow along on Pete’s Run to Remember, by following him on socials, sharing his content and if you feel it’s possible, donating to his goal of raising $1 million dollars by the end of his run. Remember, we can’t help everyone, but we can help someone.
Thank you Pete for all that you do and all that you are. We are with you every step of the way!
https://www.handsacrossthewater.org.au/event/view/run-to-remember
