My name is Kate O'Loughlin and I have recently taken on the challenge to run the New York City Marathon as part of a major fund-raising event for the Heart Foundation. In order to qualify to run the NYC Marathon, I am required to raise a minimum of $10,000.00 through fundraising events and activities, sponsorship, etc.
The reason I have chosen Heart Foundation as my cause is due to a number of personal challenges that I have faced and am currently facing.
Please support my ING New York city Marathon 2010 Challenge and help save lives. I have decided to make a difference, in my life and in the lives of those who really need it. My mission is to play a part in improving the heart health of people in Australia and around the world. My goal is to run the ING New York City Marathon and raise $10,000 for the Heart Foundation by November 2010. The Heart Foundation is funded almost entirely by donations. Its aim is to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular disease through research, education, awareness and support programs. Heart disease has affected almost all Australians in one way or another. By running in the NYC Marathon and raising funds for the Heart Foundation, it is my mission to raise awareness of the importance of a healthy active lifestyle in combating the debilitating and tragic consequences of heart disease.
In 1999 I lost my father to Congestive Heart Failure and in 2008 my mother died of complications brought on by Hypertension and an enlarged heart. Although I have generally taken pretty good care of my own health, the loss of both my mother and father to heart disease has made me very aware of my risks of similar problems.
In addition to my tragic losses, I have taken on the care of 2 young Aboriginal boys who both have intellectual disabilities and both suffer with serious, chronic health problems including Brachiecstasis which inevitably leads to heart failure. One of the boys also suffers with Rheumatic Heart Disease. Both boys need ongoing treatment as well as recurrent acute care.
As part of their care I encourage as much exercise/sport as possible and both the boys are very keen on playing and watching Aussie Rules and Cricket. Although they tire easily, they love to participate in sport as they can.
I also try to encourage them by my own example, which is why I have become quite serious about my running and training for long distance events.
NYC MarathonI began running about 12 months ago, when I started training for a half marathon event. I have been training with Eli Melky once a week but mostly train on my own, running around Ilparpa at 6 am every morning. I do a long run on Sunday mornings and currently run up to 30 kilometres but this distance increases almost weekly.
I first moved to Alice Springs in 1981. I was a young mum, and my daughter and I really only came up for a couple of weeks holiday but loved it so much that we stayed. I have moved away a couple of times but am always drawn back to Alice. The lifestyle and the people here make it feel like "home".
I was married here, we had a beautiful wedding out at Jesse Gap, but my husband suffered a serious breakdown some years ago and has since passed away. He and I had two children together, Joseph and Lewis, who were born at the Alice Springs Hospital. They are now 21 and 22 years old.
Two or so years ago, I applied for a position with Life Without Barriers, an organisation who place children with a disability into foster homes. My job entailed finding and recruiting foster carers in Alice Springs who are able to provide a loving home to a child in need. The demand for carers is so great in Alice Springs but the number of people willing to take on children with special needs will never be enough. I decided to become a foster carer myself and have cared for a number of teenagers over the last 18 months. I now have two 16 year old boys in my full time care and due to the level of care they require, I no longer work full time.
