Ok, this is the third time I have typed this post up ….. it won’t be nearly as much fun this time around!

Firstly, a huge thankyou to everyone who attended – what a fantastic night – we thankyou all for your support and hope that you enjoyed the evening as much as we did. I was worried it might just have been the red wine talking but the texts and e-mails I have received yesterday and today indicate to me that it was an inspirational and enjoyable night.

There are so many thankyous that need to go out after an event like that, many months in the planning and hours of hard work but I will try to keep it quick – thankyou to the alcohol sponsors – CuB, Mt Toolleen winery and Henley Hill winery; and to the companies who donated items to make the raffle, auction, silent auction and prizes such a success – Crazy Johns, MasterFoods, John Sands, Crown Promenade, Aireys Inlet Getaway, Catering on the Move, GIANT bikes, Piping Hot, SweetAs, Bunnings, Prahran pool, Zoe Mou jewellery, Firrin by Chloe Elizabeth and all the others I have forgotten! For those of you who left with something – we hope you enjoy your spot prizes, raffle, bargain table and auction prizes.

Obviously a huge thankyou to our amazing guest speakers – Daniel and Robbo. Thankyou for donating your time, we hope you enjoyed the event as much as we enjoyed hearing you speak. Your openness and honesty were amazing and inspiring.

So many people helped out but the following people deserve special mention – without them there would have been no event: Anthony, Damien, Jo, Jacquie, Sparky, Pete and Ri.

Now that the thankyous are done – apologies next! Due to a slight technical difficulty with the presentations I did not get to meet and greet as you all arrived, nor to have a relaxing champagne with the canape’s – so to those of you who I did get to meet or chat to properly – sorry! For those of you who I was very much looking forward to meeting and then managed only a few short words before letting myself get distracted again – apologies! Hopefully we can all catchup again once we return from the U.S. I had grand visions of spending the night with lots of time to chat and catchup but probably it was best that you got to listen to the guest speakers instead – much more coherent and a lot more interesting! Also, apologies for earth hour! We did a fair bit of planning and had purchased the candles on your table with grand plans of making note of earth hour at 8:30, turning down the lights and dining by candle-light but got so interested in the guest speakers that this did not happen! Even though we missed the chance to formally recognise this – the lights were down, your lights were off at home and we did eat by candle-light so we did do a little bit to help.

I have alluded above to a number of e-mails and texts which have come thru over the last couple of days but I think that this snippet from one encapsulates the general feeling of them all:
“Whilst I didn’t get a chance to tell you last night mate, your words of hope and determination are entrenched in the back of my head and this has given me impetus to make myself better at whatever I do in my life.”

“When I would have sat there and felt sorry for myself, you have accepted your cruel twist of fate and looked at the positives. How you do that is incomprehensible, but that’s why you will succeed in the future.”

The final banking has not yet been done but it looks as though there will be enough money to either fund the physio sessions at project walk or purchase a couple of pieces of equipment. It is so fantastic that instead of looking forlornly at equipment that will help Mike’s recovery, he can try it out and if it helps we can organise to bring it home – so thankyou very much

I cannot remember what I had included in the last 2 versions I did of this post (prior to losing them in the ether somewhere!) so I would like to finish up with wishing you all the best for the next 8 weeks while we are away – enjoy the break from us!! We will keep you up to date with at least one post a week. I won’t have Sparky around to help but will do my very best to make sure I include photos and video where possible – but I wouldn’t start holding your breath!

Enjoy April Fool’s Day and we look forward to seeing you all when we get back at the end of May.

A Night with Mike – Benefit Dinner

Today is the last day to show your support for Mike – and get him some much needed equipment – we need your forms TODAY! If you have paid electronically, could you please ensure that you have registered your payment with Monica by Email.  If you have not sent a form or emailed Monica (monica@michaelforbes.org), we don’t know that you are coming  —- and you won’t have a seat or food!  The final numbers must be confirmed with the venue by the COB today. For last minute registrations – please get the form below or from the fundraising page or e-mail monica.

Supersprint – Triathlon Raffle Winners

Wrapping up a great weekend, several michaelforbes helpers sold many raffle tickets at the St Kilda Triathlon.  The raffle raised about $2000 and will provide Mike with an extra week of active rehabilitation in the States during May.  Thank you to all who donated through the raffle and those helpers who kindly gave up their valuable time over the weekend.  The winners of the raffle are:

• 1^st prize – Giant DEFY road bike (valued $1190): D. Richardson, Sandringham
• 2^nd Prize – Free entry in Supersprint Great Ocean Road Ride 2010: J. Bradley
• 3^rd Prize – 2 Wilson tennis racquets: C. Matthews

All prize winners not already contacted will be contacted shortly.

Last call for ticket sales to the Big Dinner ….. with Robbo and Kowalski (and Mike too!). This is the last fundraising event for a very long time so come along and support Forbesy in his aim to “be the best he can be”.

There are a few tables left but we need to close out ticket sales at COB Monday so that we can advise the venue ….. So grab your mates and fill a table, send back your form so that we can make sure your tickets get sent out early next week in plenty of time and put on your party shoes to help support Mike and send him off to re-hab – we leave 3 days after the dinner for 8 weeks. His improvements already have been amazing and we are confident there is more to come!

Robbo and Kowalski will be there for the night so come along and meet them and listen to them speak about their amazing careers. And in the last bit on the dinner, thanks to the businesses who have been so supportive of the fundraising exercise

Mike has been well for the last few weeks and is slowly building up his strength for the challenge that will be Project Walk … although Mike is labelling it “Project Stand up without help and without falling flat on my face”! Those of you that come along to the dinner will notice how well and spritely Mike is looking at the moment … courtesy of a Botox injection! I am not entirely sure how it works that he gets the Botox! It was in his thumb but he is claiming it as his new Hollywood look – apparently it was enough for about 7 Hollywood actresses.  I am convinced it was a waste of good Botox and that he should just age gracefully but it does seem to have a made a huge difference. I am just wondering if he will come back with plumped up lips next time!

Look forward to seeing you next Saturday night.

A Night With Mike
Preparations are well underway for “A Night With Mike”. This special fundraising event on Saturday 28 March includes Celebrity Speakers, triple World Triathlon Champion, Peter Robertson and four-time Olympic Medallist, Daniel Kowalski. A charity auction will also give you a chance to bid for some great sporting memorabilia. Read more here.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR INVITATION

The Entertainment Book is a restaurant and activity guide that provides special 25 to 50% off and 2-for-1 offers from many of the best restaurants, hotels and attractions throughout Australia. Entertainment Books are only available through fund-raising groups, organisations and corporations as a member benefit or fund-raiser. $13 from every book purchased will be donated to Mike’s program. For further details on the books, please refer to www.entertainmentbook.com.au. To purchase a book to benefit Mike, please contact Joanne Mortimore on jomortimore@optusnet.com.au or on 0411 722 772.

michaelforbes.org Cycling Jerseys and Knicks
You are invited to be a part of a unique fundraising experience to assist Michael Forbes, in conjunction with Cycling Australia. To help Mike achieve his initial goals and to provide funding for Mike’s rehabilitation, we have designed a “MichaelForbes.org” branded cycling kit, consisting of cycling knicks (bib and brace or shorts) and a jersey. These are now available for sale. RRP is $80 for jersey; $90 for knicks or $150 for a set. The kits are available in at CBD cycles stores in Melbourne city or Spoke(n) store in St Kilda or by contacting Monica – phone: 0408 164 482 or monica@michaelforbes.org if you can’t get to these locations.