A group of ten keen young people across NSW are taking part in a pilot program through Muscular Dystrophy NSW and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. These Participants are aged between.jpg)
15-22 and all have a neuromuscular condition. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award would like to congratulate all Participants on their achievements and progress in their Bronze Awards. We would like to share The Award journeys of three of our Muscular Dystrophy Participants so far.
Nathan O’Connell from Ballina, aged 22, has completed the Volunteering Section of his Bronze Award and has been using his skills and knowledge to convert videos to DVD for Aspect (Community Autism Association). On participating in The Duke of Ed, Nathan says “I want to challenge myself and encourage younger people with Muscular Dystrophy by showing that you can do anything you put your mind to.”
Cassie Robson, who completed her HSC in 2011, has also been actively working towards achieving her Award. She is learning web design as her Skill, working for Livewire for her Volunteering Section and doing ten pin bowling for Physical Recreation. Cassie, who has applied to study psychological science at university during 2012, says “It gives us something to look forward to and achieve, when most of the time our physical achievements can not be met.”
Cassie is currently undertaking her Adventurous Journey in Melbourne with the generous support of Travel Associates, a very committed supporter of young people completing their Award whatever the challenge.
“While this is an individual program, part of it offers the chance to work in a group, allowing us to make new friends and to experience new things,” says Hayley Bellamy, aged 22. “We build our own journey and lay down our own path; we are only pushed by ourselves and what we wish to achieve. I thought this was a great opportunity. I had ideas and goals I wished to accomplish and thought that this could be a great way I could achieve them.”
Hayley, from the Nepean region, is doing Toastmasters for her Skill in order to build confidence. She was the first Participant with Muscular Dystrophy to complete her Adventurous Journey and went on a cruise of the South Pacific. Hayley is also doing natural therapy as her sport which works on strength and flexibility, is Volunteering as Muscular Dystrophy NSW Schools Ambassador and goes on outings where she leaves her Nana at home. “My Nana is very special to me, someone who I look up to and depend on for the simplest of things, my companion and my carer. To go without her by my side on the shortest of outings is challenging for me but a skill I wish to develop.”
Hayley says, “Muscular Dystrophy NSW and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award gives us the opportunity to achieve within our limitations, in hope of one day pushing past our restraints so we can proudly say; there is nothing we can’t achieve.”
