Ray Martin takes on Balmoral Burn challenge with inspiring young girl
TV presenter Ray Martin will take part in the Balmoral Burn for the first time this year after years of raising funds for the charity. Meet the young girl who convinced him to sign up.
TV presenter Ray Martin did everything he could to support the Balmoral Burn over the years except for one thing: actually take part in the race.
The leg burning 420m run up Awaba St, Mosman is not to be sniffed at and is a tough sprint even for the fittest of elite athletes.
But this year a challenge from seriously ill young girl Lauren Channon has convinced Martin that it’s time to finally lace up his trainers and take on the hill.
“I’ve been railroaded in by this lovely little 11-year-old girl. She said if she did it will I do it, so I have got no choice,” he said.
“It’s very hard to say no to someone who has done what’s she’s done.”
The race has raised millions for the Humpty Dumpty Foundation, which purchases equipment for hospitals around the country.
Lauren has benefited from the equipment donated by the charity and is looking forward to walking up the hill with Martin. The pair took a visit to Mosman last week and she is excited to take on the challenge with him.
“It means so much that I am well enough to try to make it to the top of the hill for the very first time, and that Humpty’s Patron Ray Martin, or Uncle Ray as I call him, will be doing it for his first time with me,” Lauren said.
“Each year thousands of people from the Humpty family make it all the way up the Balmoral Burn so that children like me can get better.
“I get so emotional at the event because I know all those people have helped me and thousands of children in hospitals around the country.”
When Lauren is sick in hospital she always sees the Humpty sticker on the medical equipment she is connected to. This year she wants to raise $13,000 as it represents $100 for each of her 130 operations so far. She would like to donate medical equipment to the hospitals that have kept her alive.
Lauren was born with the congenital defect tracheoesophageal fistula and esophageal atresia which are disorders of the digestive system.
To donate go to www.balmoralburn.com.au and select Lauren’s Team.
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