The Variety Spin 4 Kids is an outdoor spin bike team challenge held by Variety Australia to raise funds for children who are sick, disadvantaged or have special needs.

The funds go towards providing these children with medical services, mobility equipment and wheelchairs, therapy services, communication devices and education aides.

Teams have six hours - from 10am to 4pm - to ride as many kilometres as possible. Teams are also encouraged to dress up on the day - with prizes awarded for best dressed, best team spirit and highest fundraisers.

In preparation for the event, San Clemente is holding a Variety Charity Day on August 23. Two bikes will be set up on the school oval where students and teachers will challenge each other to see how many kilometres they can ride throughout the school day.

There will also be a sausage sizzle (sausages donated by Rustica Restaurant, Newcastle), stalls run by Year 10 students and a raffle for a signed Newcastle Knights jersey to help raise further funds for the main event.

The day has been structured around the school’s Positive Education Framework which includes the Five Ways to Wellbeing – Take Notice, Keep Learning, Be Active, Connect and Give.

The students will be taking notice of those less fortunate as they think about the ways in which they can help; students will be making a connection with Variety as well as each other as they compete in house competition games throughout the day.

They will be active as they take their turn on the bike and compete in the games; there will be many opportunities for students to give as they buy raffle tickets, or from the sausage sizzle or from the fundraising stalls; and they will keep learning as they hear from guest speakers.

The speakers are Jason Bourke (Head of Regional Development at Variety) and Maddi Elliott (previous Variety grant recipient and Paralympian swimmer) about the charity’s work and how their efforts will help disadvantaged children in the Newcastle and Hunter Region.

“As a Catholic School, our students take an active interest in social justice issues,” said Scott Donohoe, Principal at San Clemente.

“Students have been very enthusiastic about supporting this initiative which addresses inequities in our own society and strives to give Australian children a fair go in life.” 

If you would like to show your support you can donate to the school fundraising page here.

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