User:Olderbutdefinitelynotinvisible

Margaret-Anne Hayes at 79 is a fundraiser for Cancer Research, having raise one quarter of a million dollars for the Can Too Foundation since 2007. Can Too is a non profit programme raising funds for cancer research, along with an awareness of cancer prevention via physical challenges such as runs, ocean swims, triathlons, Everest Base camp treks, trail running, etc. At 68 years of age Margaret-Anne Hayes ran her first half marathon and at 69 her second. In so doing she became an inspiration for many younger Cantooers for her physical courage and then as her fundraising grew to $250,000 for her fundraising ability. To raise this funding m.a.h. has shaved her hair, skydived on two separate occasions at 73 and 76, ran the aforementioned half-marathons, held Balls, and hundreds of smaller fundraising events. M.A.H. is a motivational speaker both for Can Too and for various community organisations. She is the oldest Can Too run participant and the highest fundraiser by $151,000. She has an aim to raise half a million dollars by her 80th birthday on the 7th February 2020. Over the last twelve years m.a.h. has been the recipient of many awards. Among them, Premier's Award, 'Ku-ring-gai Local Woman of the Year 2014. 'Gem of Ku-ring-gai, 2012. Eva Kolling Award for Philanthropy; 20 Can Too awards culminating in the Can Too Platinum Fundraiser. M.A.H. hopes to encourage older women to be part of the community in whichever volunteer capacity they feel comfortable with. Her blog "Older but Definitely Not Invisible" is well read and garners many appreciative posts. M.A.H. is also writing a book with the same title, with the same aim of encouraging older women to participate in society for their physical and mental health. The CAN TOO FOUNDATION is on track to reach $21,000,000 (Twenty One Million dollars) by July 2019 with a goal of raising $25,000,000 within the next three years. If m.a.h. raises the second quarter million dollars to make her goal of half a million by her 80th birthday she intends to sky dive again from 15,000 ft. as an acknowledgement of the generosity shown to her and as an example for other women of her age that when you are Older you are Definitely NOT Invisible.