Australia’s famous mower-man Claude Harvey will take to the streets of Guyra with his coin-collecting lawn mower as part of a 10-week journey from the Gold Coast to Sydney raising funds to educate and protect Australian children from child sexual assault.
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With a donation box and iPod dock adorning his trusty Victa, the 70-year-old grandfather will appear in town on Thursday and Friday on his quest to raise awareness and funds for child protection advocate Bravehearts.
Claude’s 1000-kilometre ‘mowerthon’ will take the veteran fundraiser closer to an epic $1 million fundraising milestone, having raised more than $710,000 over the past decade. As part of his trek, he is stopping in towns along the route and will spend two days in Guyra (February 19-21) before travelling on to Sydney.
The children’s champion said he wanted to see every child in Australia given the opportunity to receive education about personal safety.
“Late last year I saw the direct benefit of my fundraising efforts when Bravehearts’ Ditto’s Keep Safe Adventure school education show visited my grandson’s school but I’d like to see every Australian child in every school in every town given the opportunity to see this program,” Mr Harvey said.
“Survivors of child sexual assault and their families also need important support services and it’s these people who give me the motivation and strength to continue my ‘mowerthons’ around Australia.
“I’m looking forward to notching up a couple of hundred more kilometres and raising much needed funds for Bravehearts so they can continue to help the kids of Australia,” said Claude.
“It can get lonely out there on the road sometimes, but it’s a great way to see this wonderful country and the people I meet in towns along the way are very supportive. It is going to be an exhausting, long trip but when I get tired, I think of all those kids out there that need Bravehearts help,” he said.
Government statistics reveal that 1 in 5 Australian children will be sexually assaulted before their 18th birthday - a number which Mr Harvey is dedicated to halving by 2020.
Claude said he was looking forward to his two-day stint in town and was hopeful of having a chat with the local community.