Follow Scott's Progress

On October 24th this year I will paddle the entirety of the River Murray. From The beginning above Echuca, till the end at Goolwa. I will finish my journey 42 days later on the 10th December. My journey will cover a distance of 2,250 km's.

I wish to start by thanking some of my major sponsors – The Commonwealth Bank, a valued business partner to Money Advisers Unley and kanoe4kids. Chemplus who are doing amazing things to support this cause. Anaconda Adventure stores at Mile End and we wish to give thanks to Liberty Finance for their continued support. We are fortunate to have many sponsors, some here tonight and I wont go into all them, but we thank you for your support. My sincere thanks to MFAA and the Ball committee for having me as a guest tonight

The event is me paddling the Murray. It is called kanoe4kids. The cause is raising $100,000 for the children of Make A Wish. Kanoe4kids is not about me, it is about the children, it is about hope, it is actually creating magic.

The first question I am always asked is why am I doing this. I am going to share something with you I have never shared this honestly with a group of people before.

At the age of 9 I suffered from an illness, no one could tell me what it was. For the next 12 years I endured the discomfort of that illness. Common symptons were severe abdominal cramps, sharp stabbing pains, other uncomfortable stuff you really don't want to hear about. Abdominal pain so severe that at 19 when I had appendicitis it thought nothing of it, so much that I did not consult a doctor until after they had burst. At 21 years of age I joined the Police Force. 2 months into my 6 months at the academy I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. Crohn's disease is an illness of the digestive tract.

Two years later, as a serving member of the SA Police in Murray bridge I had a body weight of 65kg (6ft, currently 85kg). I was eating one main meal (solid food) every 4 days and surviving on a liquid diet. My illness had reached a crisis such that food would build up behind an internal infection the size of a tennis ball. When enough pressure had built up it would pass through the infection causing me extreme pain. I was admitted to hospital. The surgeon made a 32 cm incision up and down my stomach. Removed my intestines, put them on the trolley next to me. Cut out the infection, stitched them up and threw them back in. It took 32 staples to close the incision. I spent the next 3 days asleep on morphine and 10 days in hospital. Upon leaving hospital I weighed 59kgs, I was white and skinny.

I take 9 tablets a day to stop the Crohn's coming back, I have Iron injections every 3 months, of recent I spend one day in hospital every 6 months for iron infusions – these are side effects of the surgery. Make no mistake, these days I am a very fit, healthy, and happy person. My illness does not impact on my life other than to make me more aware of my body, my health, my fortune in life.

I now look back and thank god that I was given Crohn's disease. I am a very lucky person. I did not get diabetes, muscular dystrophy, leukemia, multiple sclerosis, motor neuron disease, paraplegia... etc. There are so many people worse of than you and I.

Crohn's has opened my eyes to a world that is real. I am not invincible. There are people in life who are much worse off than me, worse than you.

Why have I told you this - You now know why I am doing Kanoe4kids. You now know why I have chosen to train for 13 months, paddle for 12 hours a day, 42 days in a row, 2250 km's.

I put it like this - I did not ask to get Crohn's disease. But I have it. For that I am lucky.

I have chosen to paddle the River Murray, a child does not chose to get Leukaemia, they don't have that choice.

I am going to read you a story from a past publication from Make A Wish. I am sure you are aware of what they do – if you are not, this will certainly leave you with no questions.

Behind me is my new friend Gemma. Let me briefly introduce her to you. Gemma is 5 years old, she has not started school yet. Gemma was diagnosed with a tumour of her kidney in January this year. She had an operation to remove her kidney, unfortunately she also required a bowel resection the same as myself. Gemma currently lives in Ronald McDonald house with her mother who has stopped working for the year to be with Gemma. Gemma will be in Ronald McDonald House and the Womens and Childrens Hospital until September this year undergoing Chemotherapy – 9 months. Gemma is a very sick girl - if you met her you can see that, if you speak to her you would never know. When I visit her she smiles, laughs, invites me to play SNAP, talks about her twin brother in Port Lincoln, Harrison, unfortunately they do not get to see so much of each other at the moment. Gemma is one little girl we can help through Make A Wish Australia, through Kanoe4kids.

I encourage you to be a part of Kanoe4kids. Not for me, but for the children we can help. The money we raise will not cure cancer, but it will bring joy and happiness to the lives of many sick children.

On your table tonight is our corporate brochure. Please take this with you tonight - I would like to hear from all of you next week.

Ill make a deal with you. Ill do the paddling. Please join me for the ride. Think of how you, your business, or your community, your family, your sporting club can be a part of kanoe4kids.

Give me money. Give me lots of money. Paddle with me for the final 2 days – we call this United for a Wish. Hold a Kanoe4kids event, pledge $5 from every loan you settle for the next 6 months, pledge $100 for every loan. Come to my movie nights, tell your media contacts, spread the message, help grow Kanoe4kids. Train with me, encourage me. Everything you give me, you give to the kids. I ask you all, every person, to do one thing for Kanoe4kids by the end of the year, by the end of the night. Just one thing. I can help these people. Together, We can help these people.

Edmund Burke is attributed with the quotation that can be seen at Aushcwitz, the Nazi Concentration camp - "All that is necessary for the triumph of Evil, is for good men to do nothing" To me that is looking at a glass and saying it is half empty. Join me in looking at the glass that is half full –

I believe, all that has to happen, for magic to occur, is for good people to do something.

Thank you