Amanda Whitley

Why I'm hurling herself off Canberra Hospital in the name of charity

I often get asked what led me to start HerCanberra, and it's hard to distil the answer into a 25-second soundbite, because the reality is that it wasn't just me as a savvy businesswoman thinking, 'hey, I've got an idea'...it was the result of a very traumatic personal journey.

In June 2008, 25 weeks pregnant with my second child, I walked out of my office door one Monday afternoon and I never went back. Due to pregnancy complications, I was urgently admitted to Canberra Hospital, where I spent the next six weeks on bed rest, before our beautiful Sophia Rose was born at 30 weeks.

She was tiny, weighing just 1.43 kg, and couldn't breathe on her own.

For 71 days after her birth, we called Canberra Hospital home. We had good and bad days. A lot of heartwrenching days hoping for some improvement. We watched countless other babies get better and go home, and there were times when I didn’t think we would ever leave. But, eventually, nearly four months after I was first admitted, we did.

The first two years were tough. Sophia came home with chronic lung disease—a cold for any other kid spelled pneumonia for her. So, even though we got her home, she needed five medications per day to keep her well. And we spent a whole lot more time in Canberra Hospital.

The Canberra Hospital team saved Sophia's life. We would not have our darling girl if it wasn't for their dedicated, expert care. And that—in a nutshell—is why I'm hurling myself off a building in the name of charity later this month.

I'll be abseiling down the side of Building 8 on Hospital Road on 21 October as part of Canberra Hospital Foundation's CAN GIVE DAY Big Wig Challenge—it's all about raising funds to support the wellbeing of frontline teams, important research, refurbishments, and programs to support patient care.

Am I terrified? Yep. But honestly? Climbing down a (very) tall building is honestly nothing compared to what we went through 14 years ago.

My aim is to raise $10,000. Will you help me get there? You can support my fundraising by making a tax-deductible donation to the Canberra Hospital Foundation.

CAN GIVE DAY is a 24-hour fundraising sprint to support the delivery of exceptional patient care for people in our community, which includes the surrounding region.

This year's CAN GIVE DAY promises to be a fun-filled day with favourite activities returning such as the WYCH Bedpan Olympics and BreastScreen Australia’s Decorate A Bra Competition, as well as the MasterCook Challenge that will see four top cooks compete, with three challenges to test their skill and grit!

Funds raised go to support clinical trials and medical research in Canberra, therapeutic and supportive programs, transformations of away-from-bed areas, and the purchase of speciality medical equipment, which enhances the patient experience throughout the year.

Want to see me jump off a building?

Throw some cash my way by donating at canberrahospitalfoundation.org.au!

So, it's been...quite the week