Officer’s 48 states mission a winner
HIS mission was to cross through 48 United States cities in as many days while raising funds and awareness for a cause close to his heart.
Peranga Senior Constable Chris Hay shaved three days from his time frame goal while raising $27,282 for the Children’s Hospital Foundation, the organisation which supported his family when his son Lachlan required treatment.
Lachlan was diagnosed with a rare liver disorder at seven weeks of age and, in 2012, Snr Const. Hay donated part of his liver to his son who has grown into a “cheeky” normal eight-year-old boy.
For his marathon efforts across the US, Snr Const. Hay was named the winner of the QBANK Everyday Heroes Achievement award for 2019, which includes a $1000 bonus to the charity of his choice.
“It’s nice to have the recognition although you don’t do these things for the recognition, but it is nice to have it for the hard work that you do,” he said.
“I had planned for 48 days but towards the end I’d had enough as I was always moving, so I organised with some of my contacts to do eight states in three days and just knock it out.”
The funds helped the Children’s Hospital Foundation buy a vascular ultrasound machine, in line with his overall goal of funding something to ease stress and anxiety among child patients and their parents.
Snr Const. Hay drew on an extensive friends network to help co-ordinate his mission from San Francisco to Albany, New York, and said social media was a positive resource in helping him reach his goal.
As for his next fundraiser, there will be one but maybe a bit closer to home.
“I’ll definitely do something again … at the moment I’ll have a bit of a rest,” he said.