Hey everyone,

We are back again this year walking in the 3km Melbourne Marathon.

This will be our 4th year and we are really looking forward to the big day.  

If you are running in the other events of the day you might see mum and Lily handing out medals. Its Lily’s first year helping out with the volunteering and she is very excited.

I have come so far since that first year. I have been in training doing laps around the local oval with family and friends. I am getting faster every lap and I am really excited to walk the MCG in my walker again this year and I am hoping to do the main walk on my red bike.

For those of you who don’t know, I have Dystonia. This is a neurological movement condition which affects adults and children. Dystonia causes me to twist and have other uncontrollable movements in my arms and upper body. I also do not have a lot of core strength to hold myself up.

We attend a special class at an amazing place called CPEC (Cerebral Palsy Education Centre) in Glen Waverly which run a program called ‘Life Skills’ that is designed to help those with neurological movement disorders learn skills that can be applied to their everyday activities. During our sessions we do a lot of specific exercises to help build my strength and coordination. The teachers give a lot of encouragement and support helping me to learn to control and make it possible to be able to walk and move my body correctly.

This year my class runs once a week for 3 hours at a time. The sessions are run by Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Speech Therapists and other support staff. The class can be quite demanding, however rewarding and we have already seen some significant gains.

Through CPEC we also have access to weekly education and support sessions for ourselves and our family as we strive to ensure that I have the opportunity to be the most amazing person I am able to be. The services provided by CPEC come at a cost. In order to seek to meet some of the costs the families, staff and community supporters of CPEC combine to run their major annual fundraiser. The funds raised are to supplement the running costs of the educational services for children with Cerebral Palsey and like conditions. Government funding only covers $7,684 of the $29,000 that it costs per child per year to access CPEC services. Fundraising is vital to help keep this very special Centre operating.

The centre is very important to me and my family and we are asking for any donation to help keep this very special place running so that I may continue to improve and become as independent as possible.

Please support my efforts by making a secure online donation and by posting a message of support.

Lots of love

Xabian and family