16 November 2015
NOVA, YOUNGCARE AND CHANNEL NINE PRESENT
LIVE YOUNG RUN HARD … 10 YEARS OF YOUNGCARE BROUGHT TO YOU BY SUNCORP INSURANCE
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, AT 4.00PM ON NINE
Channel Nine Queensland news presenter Andrew Lofthouse joins NOVA Brisbane’s breakfast team Ash, Kip and Luttsy for Live Young Run Hard … 10 years of Youngcare, an inspirational documentary on Sunday, November 22, at 4.00pm on Nine.
The special program, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Youngcare charity and raise awareness and funding, centres on one of the biggest challenges of their lives: running the New York Marathon with Youngcare ambassador Tim Martin.
To make one dream come true for this young man whose journey has been tougher than most, Ash, Kip and Luttsy, along with Andrew “Lofty” Lofthouse, took turns pushing Tim in his wheelchair over a 42 km marathon course that wound through five boroughs in one of the world’s great cities.
Tim, a resident at the Youngcare Wesley Mission Brisbane Apartment at Sinnamon Park, was 23 when he suffered a severe brain injury which left him unable to walk, talk or communicate in any way. Now, with the help of Youngcare, Tim has independence in his own apartment, and lives life with greater choice and dignity.
Youngcare came about in 2005 after one couple’s struggle to find dignified and appropriate care for young people with high care needs. Youngcare CEO Samantha Kennerley said: “Right now, over 7,000 young Aussies currently wake up each day in aged care due to a severe lack in age-appropriate accommodation. Through our building program, research, grants and dedicated support phone line, Youngcare is working towards a future where all young people can live young and independent lives, regardless of their care needs.”
Like most young Aussies, Tim had dreams of going overseas, sightseeing and meeting new people but his brain injury had prevented him from travelling in the past. Tim’s sister, Carolyn Martin, said: “Our family never imagined it would be possible to get Tim overseas. We just accepted it would never happen and now his dream has come true.”
With help from Suncorp Insurance, who have been with Youngcare from the beginning, NOVA, Channel Nine and Youngcare made it possible for Tim to exercise his rite of passage and travel overseas to experience life like any young Aussie wants to.
“Tim was so excited to be going to New York. It really gave him a reason to get out of bed in the morning and be excited about the future,” Carolyn Martin said.
The brekky guys from NOVA, “Lofty” and Tim had a week in the city that never sleeps, taking in the sights, a basketball game at Madison Square Garden, meeting new people and experiencing the highs and lows the world’s biggest marathon has to offer.
Andrew Lofthouse said: “What a tremendous experience we all had in New York. Youngcare is such a wonderful charity, and seeing Tim really enjoying himself made us all feel privileged and proud to be a part of the team making it happen.”
Watch Tim explore, be one of the boys, experience new cultures, accents, food and friends. And see what they get up to in this hour-long special showcasing Tim’s amazing Youngcare journey with “Lofty” and the NOVA team.
LIVE YOUNG RUN HARD … 10 YEARS OF YOUNGCARE
BROUGHT TO YOU BY SUNCORP INSURANCE
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, AT 4.00PM ON CHANNEL NINE
For more information:
Lisa Elwin
Publicity Manager
Channel Nine Queensland
3214 9938 / 0421 075 703
'Live Young, Run Hard: 10 Years of Youngcare' airs Sunday, 4pm on @Channel9 – don't miss it! https://t.co/I1ZAOQZ8TF pic.twitter.com/xX9LAuBuJ0
— Youngcare Australia (@YoungcareOZ) November 17, 2015
