Get ready for Greenacres third annual M2M Challenge

Specifically, the money raised through Greenacres’ annual fundraiser will help modernise a centre for people with a disability to hang out and have fun.

After extensions and renovations the centre – in View Street, Lake Illawarra – will include a theatre room and sensory space as well as a covered patio for barbecues and landscaped gardens.

Greenacres CEO Chris Christodoulou said the support organisation had always placed an emphasis on facilitating friendships and social groups.

The importance of that, he said, was evident with a recent study revealing that one quarter of people living with a disability in NSW had no friends in their lives other than family and those paid to support them.

‘’As the statistic shows, having a disability can be very socially isolating and this is why centres like the one we are building in View Street are so important,’’ he said.

‘’Our current centre in Warrawong is really rundown and so we have purchased this centre in Lake Illawarra which – with funds from M2M – will be able to be modernised and made accessible for people with various disabilities.’’

Participants in Greenacres’ community life and leisure program will be able to use the new centre – people like Racheal Fletcher from Warrawong.

The 21-year-old – who works at Greenacres as a supported employee one day a week – said the program had given her the opportunity to form many friendships.

‘’My friends, Tim and Julian, are really nice and funny and they are very kind to me,’’ Ms Fletcher said. ‘’I like having them as my friends because we do drama and have lunch together and we muck around and have lots of fun.’’

Participants in the M2M Challenge, on Sunday July 30, will start at the base of Mount Keira and walk or run the 13.6 kilometres to Mount Kembla.

In the past two years the event has raised over $150,000 to support the work of Greenacres in the region. This year organisers hope to attract at least 1000 participants and raise more than $75,000.

‘’The funds help us to improve the quality of our support,’’ Mr Christodoulou said.

‘’We are hoping the community gets behind us again this year so that we can create a welcoming, relaxing space that can be a home away from home for our participants.’’

Participants can register online at www.m2mchallenge.com.au.