Our team spend the day at the Cerebral Palsy Alliance’s Boccia National finals.
During the year, six enthusiastic volunteers from across the business had the privilege of working with our community partner, the Cerebral Palsy Alliance (CPA).
They spent the day as timekeepers and scorers for the CPA’s Boccia National Finals – a Paralympic sport similar to lawn bowls.
"Attending the day allowed us to understand how cerebral palsy affects the athletes' daily lives and then witness these inspirational people taking part in the sport."
Cassie Macallister, Scentre Group volunteer and participant
Cerebral Palsy is an umbrella term referring to a group of disorders affecting a person’s ability to move and can affect body movement, muscle control, muscle coordination, muscle tone, reflex, posture and balance.
“Meeting the athletes was definitely a highlight and a great way to understand how much they use their brain power and brawn to overcome their physical disability. Players ranged from Dan, an Olympian currently ranked 11th in the world in his Boccia category, to Spencer, a final year HSC student who wants to study law, and who had been to Dubai and Hong Kong in the last month to compete for Australia. Riley, who was just 14, had come down from Coffs Harbour with his family and school teacher, and worked as the most amazing team with his dad.”
Thanks goes to the team at CPA, whose team members worked tirelessly behind the scenes to arrange the volunteers’ day, act as our liaison on the day and generously share their passion and knowledge.
“The day taught us to appreciate life and the ease in which we live it. We were really humbled by the experience and inspired to help again in the near future,” adds Cassie.
"The CPA team worked tirelessly to arrange the volunteers' day and share their knowledge and passion."
Cassie Macallister, Scentre Group volunteer and participant