PADDLE FOR PREMS

Take on your own challenge

- Australia Day -

We are so thrilled to have completed our 'Paddle for Prems!' 

We set off early on Thursday morning and paddled our hearts out for the beautiful premature babies that have been, the ones that left us too soon and the future prems to come. 

We completed the half marathon in just under 4 hours and loved every minute of it.


Thankyou to the Griffith Base Hospital and the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children - Canberra for taking care of us in our time of need and we are thrilled to be able to give back to the NICU and special care nurseries at these hospitals.


We are overwhelmed with the support from friends, family, clients, suppliers, local businesses & families and strangers. Again, thank you very much for your donations and messages.


Grant and Sheila x

Australia Day Paddle!!

Our original plan was to complete our Half-marathon paddle on the 7th December 2022 however due to flooding this has now been reset for the 26th January 2023.
We have been training and are looking forward to the challenge.
Thankyou again to each and every one of your donations! 
Sheila & Grant x

PADDLE FOR PREMS

On Australia Day 2023, we will complete a half marathon 21km (on stand up paddle boards down the Murrumbidgee river) to raise much needed funds for ‘Running for Premature Babies Foundation.’ 

This wonderful foundation purchases life-saving neonatal equipment and funds groundbreaking research that give critically ill and premature babies a better chance of survival. 

We know quite a lot about this equipment as on December 7th 2021 we welcomed our son Oscar at 28 weeks. For eight weeks our beautiful boy relied on the incredible staff and life saving equipment in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children in Canberra and for another two weeks in the Special Care Nursery at the Griffith Hospital.

Our goal is to raise $50,000 to provide more urgently needed and vital equipment for both of these wonderful hospitals.

My husband and I are not naturally gifted athletes… but like our son did in those first 10 weeks of his life, we will fight, persevere and go from strength to strength with our training to help us achieve our goal!

We are based in a remote location of NSW and for months we were over 500km from home.

Hopefully this equipment could mean that one day a family in a similar situation may have further options to be able to stay closer to home rather than an immediate transfer to a larger centre.

We greatly appreciate any support offered & thank you for making a tax deductible donation for this amazing cause

We will see you on the mighty Murrumbidgee!

Sheila and Grant x

Thank you to my Sponsors

$5.02k

Alison Nash

Paddle power to Sheila&Grant

$1.52k

Lugsdin Toyota

$1.5k

The Hay Community Health Trust

$1.02k

Darcy And Perri Volz

Good luck with the paddle, Looking forward to cheering you on from the riverbank.

$1.02k

Mary & Wig Ryan

$1.02k

Michaela Cangelli

$1.02k

Mel Mcdonald

So proud of you all.

$1.02k

Kelly Healey

What a wonderful cause. Well done!!!!!

$1,000

Casella Family Brands

$1,000

Dorothy M

My grand daughter was nearly six weeks prem and my daughter was living near Griffith and had to be transferred away from home at this time. We fully understand how important this cause is. Well done :-)

$875

Sally Smith

Go Shee &G

$570

Ed N Eddie

GOOD LUCK

$520

Elliott Clarke

Good Luck Sheila & Grant!!!

$520

Murray & Emma Scholz

A great cause!

$520

Ovens Junction Pastoral Co Pty Ltd

Well done Sheila & Grant! My boy too was prem by 7 weeks. Wishing you all the best for the paddle. Warm regards, Bronwyn.

$520

Hamish

Hope your going downstream! Great thing to to do.

$520

Blinds By Peter Meyer

Such an awesome adventure and what a wonderful cause! We wish you all the best for the crazy journey ahead! All the best from the team at Blinds by Peter Meyer, cheers Simon

$520

Anonymous

$500

Vicki Ireson

$500

Sheila Smith

$500

Mary Ellis

Great work!!

$500

Tiento

All the best Sheila and team. Happy birthday to Oscar. You are one lucky boy!

$500

Terra Ag

$500

Griffith City Volkswagen

$500

Clint Berry

$500

Poppy Lyne

A very worthwhile cause. Good luck !

$500

The Textile Company

Best of luck Sheila and Grant. What a great cause!

$316.50

Wes Volz

$300

John And Susie Wallace

Best of luck for the paddle tomorrow, what a momentous effort. Oscar is a lucky boy to have you two as his parents. Well done team.

$300

Richard, Sarah, Skye, Henry, Tom & Sophie Cannon

Well Done Sheila & Grant!! Great cause! Look forward to celebrating at the finish line!!!

$300

Hay Services Club

Well done Sheila and Grant on all your efforts towards a great cause!

$300

Pete And Liv Harding

Go shanks and Grunta!

$263.75

Lynn Clark

$263.75

Mel & Paddy

Paddle power! You’ll be at the finish line before you know it.

$263.75

F + N Maynard

Happy paddling, we'll wave + give sustenance as you pass.

$263.75

Cromwell

$263.75

Circa Ad Jewels

Good luck guys … a wonderful idea and obviously a great cause

$250

Lou And Tris

Just Awesome!! Love you guys xx

$232.10

Janet & Charlotte Low

$232.10

Duncan & Louise Fraser

Well done Sheila and Grant. Amazing effort!

$232.10

Joyce & Ian Clark

Good luck with the paddle and reaching your tally Goal

$220

Boyd Blue

You're such an inspiration, good luck in achieving your goal All the Team at Boyd Blue

$211

Anne Milliken

$211

Cindy And Steven Scott

Amazing effort and best of luck!

$211

Emma Bruckner

We love you Oscar! Go She and G!! Love Emma, Heath, John and Alice xxx

$211

Anonymous

$211

Bill & Catia Lenehan

Happy paddling and all the best!

$211

Houston Family

Paddle like champions!!

$211

Sarah King

$211

The Ten Mile Holbrook

$211

Sam, Katrina, Grace And Rupert Christensen

Good luck legends

$211

George & Jess Commins

Beautiful work! Such a great cause. Good luck tomorrow x

$211

James And Kärt Harvey

$211

Low Family

Good luck team She & G!

$211

Sarah Houston

Thank you so much for including me on this wonderful adventure! It was an absolute honour! So proud of team Oscar! Xo

$211

Lucinda Kimpton

Champions!!!

$211

Lynne Shirley Schiller

$211

Jennifer Ellis

$211

Cox Family

Just keep paddling xxxxxx

$211

Sean And Lauren Ohara

$211

Tom Mornement

What a team 🙌🙌 xo

$211

Hamish And Claire Cormack

$211

The Weedings

Sup guys 🤙🏼

$211

Kelly & Kee

Sending lots of love, hugs and a whole lot of energy for the big paddle! Incredible effort in every aspect. GO TEAM!

$211

Jum, Dim, Wal & Max Smith

All the best with the paddle.

$211

John & Anna Bull

Good luck Grant & She. Great cause x

$211

Anonymous

$211

Tom & Kate

What a fantastic effort!

$211

Schiller Family

Amazing team Volz. We couldn’t be prouder. Good luck for the big paddle. Xx

$211

Jai Jai. Upholstery Artisans

$211

Annabelle And Willy Morrison

I’m sending up the budgie smugglers for G! Incredible effort for a truly wonderful cause.

$211

Luke Anthony Harrison

$211

Alice Maloney

Good luck guys!

$211

Cam Farrell

Great initiative!

$211

Rachael Crossley

Good luck Sheila and Grant

$211

Jane And David Porter

A terrific effort Sheila and Grant for a wonderful cause.

$211

Richard Stevens

Good on you legends!

$200

Martin

$200

Weatherly’s

Well done guys! Massive effort!

$200

Dg Harrison Engineering Pty Ltd (hay)

$200

Two Billy Buttons

$200

Sar And Gerald Grogan

Go team! Such an important cause. Well done. Plenty of photos please and no jet skis Sheila…

$200

Peter And Nicola Lawrence

$200

David And Colleen Houston

$200

Camilla Molders

$200

Hufton Fam

$200

Jock And Amy Fowler

Amazing stuff guys!! Happy paddling 💪🥰

$200

The Spot In Hay

So happy to support such a great cause . Have fun Paddling😊

$200

Pat & Ell

Good Luck & Well done.

$200

Sal Crooke

$158.25

Caz, Matt, Penny And Alice

Go She and G! Love Caz, Matt, Penny and Alice xx

$158.25

Hay Bowling And Golf Club

$158.25

Kirsten Middleton

$158.25

Jo Delia

Good luck Sheila and Grant. xxxx

$158.25

Sarah Mcphee Interiors

Cheering you on Sheila and Grant! xx

$158.25

Tom & Hils

Well done team!

$150

Mal & Louise Hufton

$131.88

Anonymous

Great effort for a very worthy cause, enjoy

$131.88

Domus Textiles

$131.88

Anonymous

$131.88

Sally Smith

Go paddling Shee & G!

$131.88

Anna Louise Ryan

GOOD LUCK SHEILA AND GRANT- SUCH A WONDERFUL CAUSE. XX

$125

Janet Low

$105.50

Sam And Nicholas Harrison

Well done Sheila and Grant! Wishing you all the best with the half marathon.

$105.50

Dixon Family

$105.50

Kiara & Dean Salvestro

All the best Sheila & Grant! An amazing cause 👏👏👏

$105.50

Trine N Ruskin

All the best 💪 lots of cheering from Jugiong xoxoxo

$105.50

On The Go Espresso

Paddle hard ! What a great cause see you at the finish line xx

$105.50

Catherine Marshall

You are making such a difference for these Prem babies. Good Luck!

$105.50

Eloise

$105.50

Ellis Family

$105.50

Genevieve O'hare

Fantastic work, hope the paddle goes well and is a lot of fun!! Paddle hard Sal 😀

$105.50

Phil Wilson

Well Done

$105.50

Christina Pilkington

Fantastic cause - best of luck with the paddle!

$105.50

Cass And Dan Clarke

Good luck for the big paddle guys! Oscar us so lucky to have such amazing parents xx

$105.50

Tom And Alex Heggaton

$105.50

Skye Stuart

So proud of you all! Prince Oscar is just amazing, sending so much love xoxo

$105.50

Emma Curtin

Great job team! I hope it all goes really well! Xx

$105.50

Charlie And Leah Wythes

Congratulations on your mammoth effort!

$105.50

Pauleen & Chris Head

Best of Luck Grant and Sheila. Lots of love, the Head family Xxx

$105.50

Bing And Buck

You’ve got the funk 👏👏👏

$105.50

Charlotte Low

Congrats Sheila & Grant

$105.50

Bridget Campbell

$105.50

Janie Snow

For all the beautiful babies, awesome awesome. Good luck Shelia Grant and all those participating

$105.50

Ian Frood Pty Ltd

$105.50

Bill & Jenny Sheaffe

$105.50

Anna And Alex Duff

A wonderful foundation doing a great job

$105.50

John, Annabel, Sandy, Georgie And Lucy Ryan

Amazing work Sheils and Grant and such a worthy cause! Well done! X

$105.50

Anneliese Bell

$105.50

Jack & Sibyl Hooke

Lots of love and encouragement

$105.50

Susie Sherratt

$105.50

Johnston Family

Super strong team best wishes

$105.50

Dickie & Georgie Selman

You don’t need it but good luck!

$105.50

Ben Doak

$105.50

Emily Barber

Good luck! Already shown incredible strength , you’ll nail the paddle Wonderful cause Em and Barb’s x

$105.50

Mitch Salvestro And Family

All the best, and a big HAPPY 1st birthday to your warrior !!

$105.50

Rowena Milliken

$105.50

Jennifer Gill Design

$105.50

The Lapraiks

Best of luck for the paddle and congratulations again on my our beautiful boy

$105.50

Thorns

Go you good things xx

$105.50

Pip And Bill

Have a wonderful day on the 9th Dec x

$105.50

Clem Finn And William

Well done Sheila and Grant, Oscar is a superstar and can’t wait to visit in Hay! Lots of love and great efforts.

$105.50

Amanda Moloney

$105.50

Bec Hunt

$105.50

Cathy Goodwin

Brilliant- my eldest daughter was in the NICU Canberra many years ago ( she’s just become a mum herself) They were wonderful and gave her the best start in life❤️

$105.50

Jacqui Snow

Happy paddling you two! Love the Snows

$105.50

Peter + Phoebe Sceresini

Just keep paddling!

$105.50

Pia And Ross Smillie

$105.50

Helen Morphett

Good luck Sheila and Grant with your half marathon.

$105.50

Top Harvey

$105.50

Gianni Merlo

$105.50

Portia

A very worthwhile cause. Good luck with the paddle!

$105.50

Foodie Friends

Well done Sheila and Grant !

$100

Jac And Rd Davies

$100

Nerida And Neville

Great effort, will be so beneficial for other babies.

$100

Lize & Jack Eastman

Awesome effort Sheils & Grant. Sorry we can’t be there on the finish line for the celebration. Enjoy the paddle!! X

$100

Emma

Love you legends, so inspirational and what incredible parents!

$100

Fiona Middleton

Good luck

$100

Andy Harvey

$100

Meredith Elliott

You’re amazing!!! What a huge effort Xx

$100

Hay Resident

From a Hay Resident

$100

Simon, Anna And Mabel Dennis

Good work Oscar’s mum and dad! (Go Kermit!) Mabel Dennis Xxx

$100

Adrian, Fleur & Sybil

All the best for the paddle Grant and Sheila! Such an important foundation for these special babies!

$100

Bel, Deno, Lily And Ru Bainger

Well done to the three of you - can’t wait to hear how you get on xxx

$100

Jen And Jackson

$100

Sheila Smith

$100

Alice And Landy

$80

Abby Irwin

Go for gold Sheila and Grant, you’re awesome!!!

$75

Wendy Harvey

$68.58

Deirdre Douglas-leijten

Fantastic initiative Sheila! Good luck with all the training! Love & cuddles to Oscar

$68.58

Watts Tripping Electrical

$63.30

Sue

Well done S & G

$58.03

Donna Herden

$58.03

Jon Meys

$52.75

Kellie Penfold

$52.75

Stephanie Andrews

All the best Sheila and Grant! Happy paddling x

$52.75

Sarah Rae

May your arms (and the current) be strong 💪 Awesome effort Team Volz-Smith!

$52.75

Tim Crooke

$52.75

Lisa Burnham

Good luck team. An incredible cause xx

$52.75

Georgie Macneil

Awesome effort!

$52.75

Ellie Caldwell

Go Shelia and Sal! Great cause. You should wear your orange number Sal!!

$52.75

Kate Brow

Amazing cause!

$52.75

Emma

All the very best ❤️

$52.75

Kade Brown & Oliver Davis

Go you good things. Wonderful cause x

$52.75

Gsston Family

$52.75

Tiff Rogers

$52.75

Tracy Jubb

$52.75

Rachael Lenehan

$52.75

Sophie And Manning Doughty

Go get ‘em!! Hope you’ve had your weetbix!

$52.75

Jack Heslin

$52.75

Natalina Quarisa

What a wonderful cause. Inspirational.

$52.75

Anonymous

$52.75

Emma Bowman

Such a fabulous initiative! Oscar and the Hay community would be particularly proud of you. Top stuff Sheila and Grant xx

$52.75

Daisy

You’re wonderful creatures and this is a wonderful thing and I wish I could come and cheer you on and then twirl you around! Much love xxx

$52.75

Margaret Gleeson

Great cause!

$52.75

Sarah & Sam

Strongest team of 3 I know!

$52.75

Bec Bunyan

Amazing work!

$52.75

Tom & Sarah Hooke

A very worthy cause. Best of luck for the paddle!

$52.75

Renee Flood

$52.75

Brent

Best of luck!🖤✌🏻

$52.75

Carol Hartup

A wonderful cause. Good luck.

$52.75

Gerard And Michelle

Best of luck guys 👍🏼

$52.75

Andrea Rawlinson

$52.75

Michelle Spence

$52.75

Camilla Pearce

Onya Sheils and Grant!! Incredible efforts xxx

$52.75

Phoebe Bull

Love to support such a wonderful cause

$52.75

Nellie

$52.75

The Jenkins

Oscar is a lucky boy. Great work and good luck guys ox

$52.75

Julia Watt

Amazing cause! Well done Sheils and Grant and thank you for sharing your experience. So glad Oscar was able to receive this incredible care. Much love to you all xx

$52.75

The Perkins Family

What a moving video of your special little man Oscar! Good on you guys for rallying and paddling for a great cause. Xx

$52.75

Victoria Gatacre

Good luck !

$52.75

Helen & Greg Rogers

$52.75

Georgina Low

$52.75

Fiona Mckenzie

Love from Prim’s mum Fiona

$52.75

Anonymous

Paddle for Prems

$50

Murray Fam

$50

Carrington, Couch & The Minis

Incredible initiative Legends xx

$50

Chloe Burgess

Go Sheila!!

$50

The Sandow Family

Happy Paddling! What a way to give back xx

$32.71

Anonymous

$31.65

Chelsea Wilson

All the best with your paddle! What an amazing charity and such special and important equipment, it is so so needed. Oscar is very lucky!

$26.38

Von & Mike Cannon

Enjoy the paddle and grab some Yabs on the way.

$26.38

David & Lizzie Crooke

Well paddled Sally

$26.38

Hay Services Club

Hope this extra helps reach your goal!!

$21.10

Emma Muller

$21.10

Anonymous

$21.10

Carol Van Berkel

$21.10

Brooke Matheson

$21.10

Anonymous

$21.10

Cliff Butt

Hope you have fun and raise lot's of money

$21.10

Jen Clark

Good luck guys! You rock!

$21.10

Edwina Affleck

$21.10

Anonymous

$21.10

Jess B

Such a great cause! Well done

$20

Elyse Montgomery

$20

Melissa Lofts

Thank you for all your efforts x

$20

Daisy Armstrong

$10.55

Ven Monte

Goodluck hope you raise lots of money for a worthy cause.

$5

Anonymous