Join GiveNow to access My Giving
- view all your donations
- setup regular donations
- get donation summaries for your tax return
Two months walking a 1850klm long, harsh desert track - would you do it? Could you? Imagine having little hearing and sight and ask yourself those questions again. It's exactly what Sharyn Mitchell and her Seeing Eye Dog Versace will be doing in August and September of 2012.
Sharyn has Usher Syndrome, a degenerative condition that affects her hearing and sight but she's not letting that get in the way of following her lifelong friend, Pam's, long time dream. Pam Armstrong, aka 'Cyclone Pammy', has envisioned walking the entire Canning Stock Route for many years now. Pam lived in the Pilbara of WA for many years and has trekked the desert dunes for leisure before but nothing as huge as this massive undertaking.
Trekking alongside Sharyn (47) and Versace will be Pam (47), Sharyn's sister Lauren (43), Pams good friend Anna (47) and also Greer Gerson (40), a senior instructor with Seeing Eye Dogs Australia.
Sharyn's Seeing Eye Dog Versace will be the first service dog to walk the Canning Stock Route. Seeing Eye Dogs Australia (SEDA) are fully supportive of this amazing adventure and commented that Versace and all Seeing Eye Dogs are exceptionally fit and healthy and that Versace would do well. He is incredibly loyal and so closely bonded with Sharyn that he would follow her to the ends of the earth.
Why do such a long and potentially dangerous trek I hear you ask?? Good question! Apart from the sheer challenge and consequent satisfaction of conquering such a large feat, these ladies want to raise awareness about Usher Syndrome. This cruel condition advances quite slowly with most types of Usher Syndrome, which is a genetic defect that is a combination of congenital Sensorineural hearing loss and the gradual onset in late teens of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). RP is the leading cause of blindness in the world and Sharyn now has less than five 'degrees' of vision left which is akin to looking through a tiny hole. Because it's degenerative, it's worsening with time and Sharyn may be fully blind at some stage in the near future. Luckily, at the age of 40 Sharyn was the recipient of her first Cochlear implant, then her second a few years later. She says they have made a huge difference in her life and thanks God for technology, as she had lost basically all of her hearing before receiving them. "As you can imagine, regaining some hearing back was such a big help considering my worsening vision", Sharyn says.
All five ladies and Versace are starting to train, getting as fit as they can before the walk along with planning and organising essential aspects to ensure the walk's success. They have a support person; Herb Roe, who will drive Pam's troopy, in front within radio distance in case of an emergency and also to give Versace a ride a few hours a day so he can rest. Herb will carry the extra water that the ladies will need replenished every 4 days or so as their trekking trailers have a limited capacity of 40kgs.
The success of this expedition includes gaining vital sponsorship and funds for equipment and fuel etc.
All funds raised over and above what's needed for the trek will go straight to the Usher Syndrome Support Group run by Senses Foundation WA. Senses is a not for profit organisation that caters for people with Usher Syndrome and acquired deaf/blindness.
Please help them achieve their incredible trek and we hope you enjoy following our journey!!
Sharyn has Usher Syndrome, a degenerative condition that affects her hearing and sight but she's not letting that get in the way of following her lifelong friend, Pam's, long time dream. Pam Armstrong, aka 'Cyclone Pammy', has envisioned walking the entire Canning Stock Route for many years now. Pam lived in the Pilbara of WA for many years and has trekked the desert dunes for leisure before but nothing as huge as this massive undertaking.
Trekking alongside Sharyn (47) and Versace will be Pam (47), Sharyn's sister Lauren (43), Pams good friend Anna (47) and also Greer Gerson (40), a senior instructor with Seeing Eye Dogs Australia.
Sharyn's Seeing Eye Dog Versace will be the first service dog to walk the Canning Stock Route. Seeing Eye Dogs Australia (SEDA) are fully supportive of this amazing adventure and commented that Versace and all Seeing Eye Dogs are exceptionally fit and healthy and that Versace would do well. He is incredibly loyal and so closely bonded with Sharyn that he would follow her to the ends of the earth.
Why do such a long and potentially dangerous trek I hear you ask?? Good question! Apart from the sheer challenge and consequent satisfaction of conquering such a large feat, these ladies want to raise awareness about Usher Syndrome. This cruel condition advances quite slowly with most types of Usher Syndrome, which is a genetic defect that is a combination of congenital Sensorineural hearing loss and the gradual onset in late teens of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). RP is the leading cause of blindness in the world and Sharyn now has less than five 'degrees' of vision left which is akin to looking through a tiny hole. Because it's degenerative, it's worsening with time and Sharyn may be fully blind at some stage in the near future. Luckily, at the age of 40 Sharyn was the recipient of her first Cochlear implant, then her second a few years later. She says they have made a huge difference in her life and thanks God for technology, as she had lost basically all of her hearing before receiving them. "As you can imagine, regaining some hearing back was such a big help considering my worsening vision", Sharyn says.
All five ladies and Versace are starting to train, getting as fit as they can before the walk along with planning and organising essential aspects to ensure the walk's success. They have a support person; Herb Roe, who will drive Pam's troopy, in front within radio distance in case of an emergency and also to give Versace a ride a few hours a day so he can rest. Herb will carry the extra water that the ladies will need replenished every 4 days or so as their trekking trailers have a limited capacity of 40kgs.
The success of this expedition includes gaining vital sponsorship and funds for equipment and fuel etc.
All funds raised over and above what's needed for the trek will go straight to the Usher Syndrome Support Group run by Senses Foundation WA. Senses is a not for profit organisation that caters for people with Usher Syndrome and acquired deaf/blindness.
Please help them achieve their incredible trek and we hope you enjoy following our journey!!
Are donations tax deductible? Yes
Will I receive a receipt for my donation?
Yes, immediately sent to you by email when approved.
Donate to 'Defying Adversity' Desert Trek
- Give a one-off donation online
- Give a regular donation online
- Donate by phone
- Donate by mail
- Donate by fax
- Leave a bequest
To donate by phone, call (08) 9473 5400. Please have your credit card details on hand when you call.
To donate by mail, please download a printable donation form and send through the post to:
PO Box 143
Burswood WA 6100
PO Box 143
Burswood WA 6100
To donate by fax, please download a printable donation form and fax to (08) 9473 5499.
To leave a bequest in your will, please read the wills and bequests page for Senses Foundation.
$700
raised so far