Wendy joins fundraising rally for cystic fibrosis

August 31, 2007

Wendy Swain, a student at the University of New England, is about to have the time of her life while supporting cystic fibrosis research. She has been chosen as a driver in The Great Escape car rally, which raises money for Cystic Fibrosis Australia.

Wendy (pictured here) will be a member of a five-person team driving a 1964 EH Holden which, along with about 50 other cars of similar vintage, will leave Tamworth on Tuesday 4 September, push north to the Whitsundays, and then return to Ballina.

Wendy's team is representing the Tamworth Visitor Information Centre, where she has worked – at weekends and during university holidays – for the past three years. "We know that cystic fibrosis affects several families in the Tamworth region," she said, "and by going in the rally we hope to show our support for these families by raising funds – and by raising awareness of the disease." A large golden guitar mounted on top of the Tourism Tamworth car will contain speakers advertising Tamworth and its Country Music Festival by broadcasting country music.

The cars will travel more than 4,000 km during the 10-day rally. "It will be the experience of a lifetime," Wendy said. "It's a chance to see Australia in a unique way while helping to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis National Data Registry and research into (and treatment of) the disease."

She explained that there was still no cure for cystic fibrosis – the most common life-threatening recessive genetic disorder affecting Australian children. "While many children with the disease die before reaching adulthood," she said, "there are about 3,000 people living with cystic fibrosis in Australia today."

Wendy, who comes from a farm near Lake Keepit, is a resident of UNE's Duval College. Supported by a UNE Country Scholarship, she is in her third year of a combined Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Commerce degree program. "At first I didn't think I'd be able to go on the rally," she said, "as it coincides with the last two weeks of term. But my lecturers and college heads were all very supportive of my taking up this opportunity, and have given me tips on how to catch up with my studies. The podcast technology that UNE has taken up will help a lot in this respect."

At Duval College, Wendy is an Academic Mentor for Business (and, recently, for Arts too). "My college experience has been extremely positive," she said. "I find it allows for a balanced lifestyle of study, sport, and social and cultural involvement. I'm excited about being an ambassador for the College and UNE – as well as for Tamworth – in the 2007 Cystic Fibrosis Great Escape, and raising money for such a great cause."

Posted by Jim Scanlan at August 31, 2007 01:30 PM