St Vincent’s Run for Autism
We are blessed in Catholic education to have so many members of our school communities who are willing to put in volunteer hours to support our children and young people. Whether through the P&F, the School Advisory Council, roster in classrooms or the school canteen, volunteering has been a constant in Catholic schools for many years. It is however not just parents/carers who volunteer, but in many instances school staff who want to support a great cause relevant to their own day to day experiences. Teachers from St Vincent’s School in Parmelia are one of those groups and we are delighted to feature their story here.
"Run for Autism is a virtual running event which encourages people to run for a great cause. Whether running on your own or as a team, you have the ability to choose how far you run and when you run, while raising funds and awareness for autism.
At St Vincent’s School in Parmelia, we work closely with children with autism on a daily basis. We see the challenges our students face and progress they can make with the right support. Autism is a lifelong condition. Each person on the autism spectrum sees, hears, feels, and experiences the world differently. For many, simply coping with every day can lead to confusion, anxiety, and isolation. An estimated 1 in 70 people in Australia is on the autism spectrum. Along with their family members, this means autism is a part of daily life for over a million Australians.
On the week of Sunday 31st October to Sunday 7th November, sixteen staff members at our school challenged themselves to run for a cause that is close to all our hearts. We tied up our running shoes and headed out, many of us running with friends and family members (including young children and dogs in tow) to give us that extra encouragement we needed.
We would like to thank our incredible family and friends who came along with us on our daily running adventures and donated money to Run for Autism. As a team, we were able to raise a total of $3610. This money will go towards future research to provide more programs, services, and opportunities for people of the autism spectrum."
Caroline Canteli Impillino and Vicky Wright
Our colleagues who participated included -
Vicky Wright Clair Outram
Caroline Cantali Impillino Michelle Barjaktarevic
Catherine Bauer Emily Dwyer
Chella Godber Liz Lazzara
Lorralie Bucknell Natasha De Franca
Anne Aquino Michelle Nel
Jade Nelson Kimberley Wood
Leanne Holcombe Madison Norton
