Officeworks Pinpoint magazine OFW11016 Pin Point_Issue26 16Oct17 FINAL LR | Page 31

Paul goes the extra mile
STORY BY ZACH JACKSON (TEAM MEMBER, OFFICEWORKS RICHMOND, VIC)
In May, Paul Geluk, a member
of our Support Office Marketing
team, participated in the Go the
Extra Mile walking challenge in
Victoria in an attempt to raise
funds for orphans in Uganda.
Paul completed the 50km
walk from Jells Park into the
Dandenong Ranges, Victoria.
Paul began his walk at 7am and
completed the walk at 7:15pm
that night in what Paul describes
as a “long and tiring” experience,
thanks to a few hours of rain and
muddy terrain.
The event helps to raise funds for
HopeBuilders International, an
Australian charity that owns and
operates The Village of Hope – a
place where rescued orphans
are put into a safe, loving, family
environment.
This was Paul’s first time
completing an event like this,
however, the idea to participate
originated from his son, Noah.
“This was Noah’s third time doing
it and he asked me to join him this
year,” says Paul.
“But I didn’t do it just for him.
This was a great way to help a
good cause and really make a
difference in people’s lives”
Paul and around 200 individuals
completed the challenge,
which included his 71-year old
mother, Corry, and despite the
unaccommodating weather
and the steep sections that
required ropes, Paul says he loved
completing the challenge.
The event managed to raise
more than $85,000, with Paul
and his team contributing $320.
A fantastic achievement.
You can find out more about
HopeBuilders International at
the following link:
http://hopebuilders.org.au/
Wodonga lends a helping hand
Officeworks Wodonga (Vic) is
helping make bigger things
happen! With the help of the Vic
2 region, Store Business Manager,
Beck Warburton and her team
were able to donate 30 book
packs to a local school in June.
One of the students who received
a book pack was Susma,
refugee from Bhutan who is
starting school at Wodonga
Middle Years College.
Susma and her family were
delighted to receive a book
pack provided by Officeworks
Wodonga.
Gary Hodge the Assistant Principal
said presenting the donations
was very emotional and showed
the difference our contribution
will make to each student’s
educational journey.
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