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Ailsa Atkins

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My Activity Tracking

83
kms

My target 150 kms

I'm fundraising for MATES in Construction

I am excited to announce that throughout April, I will be taking on the physical and fundraising challenge of the MATES Long Lap 2025.

You are not alone is something I firmly believe in when it comes to mental
health. That is why I will not be taking this challenge on alone.

By igniting hope for our mates, we make the world a better place. We feel supporting 'MATES Long Lap' is important not only for the Construction community, but also for everyone's well-being.

There will be regular updates throughout the month to keep you all up to date on the Long Lap progress. Every donation, no matter how small, can make a significant difference and help MATES continue their crucial work.

Thank you for joining us and MATES on this journey towards a healthier and more aware community.

Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

Raised

$845

My Goal

$1,000

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My Achievements

Fundraising page

Updated Profile Pic

Added a Blog Post

Received 5 Donations

Reached Goal

Increased Target

My Updates

Day eleven

Saturday 12th Apr
Despite being in wellington hospital for a little over 11 hours with my old man, I still managed to get in 3.59kms! 

Day nine

Thursday 10th Apr
crap day today, life just want playing the game, but I am gonna make it up tomorrow!!!

why this cause?

Tuesday 8th Apr
I've indicated before that this clause is close to my heart.  The reason is Damon.  Damon arrived at Key Skills in 2011 when he was all of 16.  He had left school, done a pre-trade course in Carpentry and very much wanted to be in the workforce.  We generally didnt take people on who were that young, a little more life experience is generally required but this kid was different......  He was soooo determined to get his life started, we gave him a shot and he proved himself to be very useful quickly.  
He had his ups and downs being in the big wide world of construction but his heart was as big as athe ocean, and like i said before, he was determined.  He learned quickly the rules and got more and more work with more responsibility. 
If it’s not clear he was very much under my wing and I adored his spirit. 
Damon was a cheekly chappy and loved a good "deal" but his sense of right and wrong was firm. 
Damon found himself in a spot of bother in his private life, nothing major but it required a court appearance.  He was wronged and what had happened was unfair and a genuine mistake, he came to talk it over with me.  We talked for over an hour about options and strategies, he talked to his Mum too......  then Damon went home and did the unthinkable.  He decided that it was all so awful and against his values, his only option was to end his life, he passed away on 09/06/2012. 
And a piece of my heart and many many others went with him. 
I spoke at his funeral.
I've never forgotten you Damon, and every walk, run, bike ride I do is in your memory. I am so still so gutted that you made that final decision and I often think what more iIcould have done in that hour I had with you.  I also think of what you would have done with life, you would have been 30 this year, you have 6 nephews and nieces, many of them bearing a part of your name, but we all wish we just had you back. 

Mates in Construction trains anyone in the construction industry to connect people like Damon with people who are trainied to help. 

Help us help them 


The staff at Key Skills have been through the connector training and we firmly belive we have more understanding now than we did on how to recognise vulnerable people like Damon and connect them with people who can help see another path

Day six

Sunday 6th Apr
Cute things appear when you’re out and about a little more than usual! 

Day five

Saturday 5th Apr
What a fab day for a walk along the camborne walkway, my eldest boy even caught some fish! 

Day four

Friday 4th Apr
so not even an orange rain warning is going to stop this team!!  

Day three

Thursday 3rd Apr
There has been all sorts of barriers to exercise today, my eldest needed to be at school early, full day of work and then I'm off to see The Last Showgirl with some girlfriends tonight, plus the imminent threat of a rainstorm coming in from The Tasman!

Normally that would be more than enough excuses for me to forego any type of exercise but all this sponsorship makes you feel pretty accountable!

So Toby got a long walk at lunchtime today and I will walk to the movies tonight (I might scrounge a lift home as it'll be dark and a broken ankle wont help the cause!)

Hip warm up!

Wednesday 2nd Apr

Day two

Wednesday 2nd Apr
Getting the bike ready for the first time in a wee while!  

Did the bike ride with the boys this morning to school and back, thought i was doing fine until I bumped into a mate asking if I was "safe on that thing?" thanks Mick, you owe me sponsorship now!

Day one

Tuesday 1st Apr
With a busy life of raising 2 small boys, managing a tiny lifestyle block, managing a business and helping parentals its a tricky thing trying to squeeze in a 5km walk, bike ride or swim etc every day!

Today the solution was found by walking to and from the school pick up instead of driving as i would normally.  

Lesson learned:

1.  Walking is good for the brain
2. I had some nice one of one time with my youngest boy
(The eldest sped ahead on his bike)
3. Make better choices around shoes and socks next time
4.  Don’t wear tight jeans on a 5km walk
5.  My hips are not what they were 25 years ago, learn to warm up

Stay tuned for other life lessons that a 50 year old should have learned years ago!

the why

Thursday 27th Mar
This is a cause very close to our hearts at Key Skills.  We have personally felt the loss of team members to suicide and want to do what we can to help anyone feeling as though that action is their only option left.

Thank you to my Sponsors

$208.60

Supportive Hubby!

You go Mrs!

$208.60

Pfs Tiling Limited

Much love and support for such an important cause.

$106.12

Anonymous

you can do this!

$106.12

Liz T

Go Ailsa 🏃‍♀️

$54.12

Lesley G

Well done gorgeous. A very worth while cause xx

$50

Laura, Matt, Harper, Cody

We've got you!!

$27.81

Ruth Bayne

Very worthwhile cause - should be entertaining for the chooks, you running up and down the drive 😁

$27.81

Jane Harris

Go you good thing!

$27.81

Samantha Exley

$27.81

Kim Hotton

Forever young our Damon 💙

Our Team