On behalf of the entire team here at Bench, I would like to extend a huge amount of gratitude and thanks to all of those who contributed and helped us reach our goal of $12,000.Bench once again stepped out to support St Lucy’s School by taking on a 21km coastal walk from Maroubra to Watson’s Bay this November, fielding a team of 33 committed members eager to support a worthy cause. St Lucy’s specialist education provides an academic haven for families managing additional needs. The school focuses on delivering a holistic education as well as outstanding learning and development programmes that ensures each child can go on to operate and thrive in society just as they are. The view from the track We had set ourselves a steep fundraising target of 12k with a rigorous training programme to match – knowing that on the day we would really have to pull together to mitigate any fitness mishaps. The first real challenge was arriving by 7am at Maroubra. Once the team fully assembled, we set off along the coastline to Bondi Beach. Within a short time of starting out, some were already dealing with some relentless Sydney weather, blisters and fatigue. One of our team members had even taken on a personal challenge to run the entire distance. Despite varying fitness levels, the team all pulled together to achieve a common goal; encourage, self-extend and work as one to overcome any difficulties. We were thrilled for each individual making the finish line, with the first arrivals finishing an incredible 1.5 hours earlier than anticipated! The experience was rewarding not only for the cause, but also seeing different departments and colleagues come together for a reason beyond just work. It’s fair to say there were conversations and connections made that day that may never have happened in an office environment. Walking for St Lucy’s transcended a simple fundraiser. It gave us a sense of uniformity and solidarity, which made all the commitment, training and effort so absolutely worthwhile. It encouraged us to think beyond our own needs and wants and to truly appreciate what we all have around us. In whatever form that takes. St Lucy’s do incredible work, day in, day out for these amazing children. They rely heavily on community support, so we encourage you to check out what they’re all about and support in any way you can.
https://www.stlucys.nsw.edu.au/
The Bench Team
