Ready, Set, Race!

Announcing an inspirational way to see the world and help save lives.

In a bid to raise awareness and to raise funds for research forSpinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 [SMA], a muscle wasting disease, SMA Australia founder Julie Cini has created a version of TV’s  “The Amazing Race” where anyone can participate.

This event, known as “The SMAmazing Race” will be held throughout October 2013. Teams will spend ten days racing through mystery overseas locations. Racers are given a choice of challenges, which will be similar to those seen on the TV show. Points are awarded for each challenge and an eventual winner is named at the end of each race.

To enter, racers simply pay a $500 entrance fee to covers taxes. They must also raise a minimum of $10,000 to cover other travel costs. All surplus funds going directly to Spinal Muscular Atrophy Association.

There are already a number of teams that have raised the $10,000 entry fee including “Team Skip-Bo” which consists of two everyday hero’s Samantha Storey, 21 and Sheree Mulreany, 51. Samantha and Sheree are friends who have raised a considerable proportion of their entry fee by organising a range of activities including a trivia night. “We’re proud to be able to make a contribution to fighting this disease” explains Sheree. The trivia night was a lot of fun, easy to organise and raised over $3,000. We’re surprised just how many people are willing to help us raise money.”

“My mum is shaving her head on Mother’s Day. We’re auctioning off her hair and asking people to make pledges” says Samantha “In the lead up to the big shave, my mum is also selling an array of handmade beanies. If we can raise this amount of money, anyone can”.

SMA is a genetic disease which causes progressive deterioration of motor neurons in the spinal cord. This results in weakness and wasting of the voluntary muscles. Although crawling, walking, sitting, feeding, swallowing and breathing become impaired, intelligence is unaffected. This muscle wasting disease affects 1 in 6,000 live births. Families generally have not heard of SMA until their child or a family member is diagnosed with the disease.

Julie founded SMA Australia after losing her two daughters to this cruel disease. In 2005, her first daughter, Montanna, died from Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1.  The next year, tragedy dealt Julie another cruel blow. Shortly after discovering she was pregnant with her second child, her partner was struck and killed by a truck in the driveway of their family home. Soon after, Julie’s second daughter, Zarlee, was also born with SMA Type 1. Zarlee died on Christmas Day, 2007 aged twelve months.

Proceeds from “The SMAmazing Race” will go to support services that help the Spinal Muscular Atrophy Association of Australia Inc. “Spinal Muscular Atrophy is the number one genetic killer of infants under the age of two. It can also occur in adults” explains Julie.  Each month, around fifty two Australian lives are lost to motor neurone syndromes including SMA.  There is no known cure.

“Everyone who registers for “The SMAmazing Race” receives an information pack which includes fundraising ideas that will help them reach the $10,000 entry target.” Says Julie.Spinal Muscular Atrophy Association will fully support the entrants throughout their fundraising journey.

Think you have what it takes? Information packs and corporate sponsorship details are available from: www.smaaustralia.org.au.