Variety Jumps in to Help Swimmers

WHEN it comes to helping children in their own area, members of local Variety
Bash team the Runaway Brides don't hesitate to jump in, white gowns and all.

 Over the five years the team has participated in the Bash numerous local
children have benefited from donations and grants from Variety SA and founding
member Sandra Lukin said it was the primary reason the team continued to
participate in the annual event, which is why they were so happy to hear about two more local recipients.

 Local swimmers Jade Calverley and Ellie McInerney are among the 2013 recipients of Variety's Show of Hearts Sports Scholarships. The scholarships will help with the cost of coaching, travel costs and entry fees for events for the girls.

Ellie, 11, received $5000 to enable her to improve her skills through specialist coaching and compete in carnivals around South Australia and beyond. Jade, 13, will get $3000 a year over two years to help her pursue her Paralympic dreams as part of the Paralympics Development Team with the opportunity to go to Rio in 2016.

They will both compete in the 2013 Australian Age Multi Class Championships in Adelaide later this month. "The Brides are very excited about $10,000 coming back to local kids and their families," Mrs Lukin said.
"We are always excited to hear when Variety helps out someone local."
The Brides have raised more than $100,000 for Variety and Mrs Lukin said more than that had come back to the Lower Eyre Peninsula in donations and support for local special needs kids. Variety SA marketing and communications manager Bridgette Whittle said apart from fundraising for Variety teams often helped identify children who would benefit from Variety's support, such as the Runaway Brides who supported Ellie and Jade's applications.

 "It's great when our Bashers and fundraisers are able to find in the community kids that need assistance and help them get it."

As printed in the Port Lincoln Times 4th April 2013

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Link to full article in Port Lincoln Times