Hayley Chamberlain

My challenge is uncomfortable for me because...

Last year, we took on the challenge of running 100km in 10 days, raising over $2,000 for Australians experiencing homelessness. This year, we’re switching things up.

Inspired by our incredible friend Charlotte and all the work she’s done to support domestic violence funding and shelters across the Hunter region, we’ve decided to dedicate 10 days of volunteering at community shelters.

We’ll be doing this on top of our full-time jobs, study loads, and other commitments to highlight something important — Australians, especially women and children, don’t always get the privilege of flexibility or safety in their everyday lives.

This time around, we’re hoping to gain a deeper understanding of the reality so many face, educate ourselves, and hopefully inspire others to make a difference; not just through donations, but in their own communities and everyday lives.

We’re just ordinary people, but each day we wake up and strive to be better; to show up, to learn, and to give our time and energy to those who need it most. We’re so lucky to live the lives we do, and it’s only fair that we put ourselves in someone else’s shoes for a moment; because it’s not right that they’re uncomfortable while we aren’t.

Every act of kindness, whether it’s funding, a chat, a meal, or a helping hand, can make a huge difference.

We’ll soon share a list of shelters and community organisations we’ll be supporting, but if you know of any that need extra hands, please reach out!

Let’s get uncomfortable (again) — and do something that truly matters!