Kate Harbott has raised more than $5000 in the MS Queensland’s Gold Coast Swimathon on Sunday 24 February for her mother Gail who is living with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Kate says she chose the Swimathon for the sixth year running as she will always remember the time her mum Gail explained to her how she felt in the pool “I will never forget one day when I was in a pool with my mum and she said to me that it was the one place she felt ‘normal’,” said Kate. “She said people look at the wheelchair on the side of the pool and can never figure out who it belongs to because in the water we all look the same.”
Originally setting a goal of $4000, Kate rallied her employer and work colleagues to form the ‘Sunny Suncorp’ team as she has seen first-hand the impacts of MS on a person, their friends and family. Kate also sees how important the services provided by MS Queensland are and is encouraging everyone to join them in the pool or on the side lines. “MS Queensland is so important to mum and all of the other people living with MS. I have seen first-hand the fundraising for MS Queensland support people living with MS like my mum. We’ve been able to utilise a range of support programs to help her live independently, maintain her lifestyle, and contribute as a part of our very active family. It’s even just knowing that MS Queensland is a phone call away and knowing there’s an organisation there who will always be fighting for you.”
Kate along with her mum Gail and their supporters created a Swimathon Team that swam the 12 hour relay to raise funds for the more than 3900 people living with MS in Queensland. Turning nine this year, the Gold Coast MS Swimathon fundraiser sees teams of swimmers sponsored by friends, family and work colleagues to swim in a 12-hour relay to raise vital funds for locals living with MS.
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