"HE'S THE PIED PIPER OF PEOPLE!"
Peter Garner
Head of Ridgeway Middle School
Peter Garner
Head of Ridgeway Middle School
WHAT MAKES DAVID DIFFERENT?
David has had the good fortune of working in a variety of roles that require leadership, engagement, creativity and good humor. From working on Cruise Ships to The Children's Hospital, at Westmead; from Deputy Principal to Professional athlete. His presentation skills have been tried and tested in front of some of the most demanding audiences.
He has captivated auditoriums full of unruly teenage students, entertained masses of primary school kids, motivated executive educators, inspired University hopefuls and graduates alike, and enthralled sensitive parent bodies. His life experiences, infectious motivation and willingness to launch himself outside his comfort zone will give you a rare insight into just what the human spirit is capable of. Students feed off of his stories and leave his sessions energised to take on the world.
As well as completing his Masters degree in Behaviour and Coaching Psychology, David is always planning his next action-packed adventure. Not only does he speak about Chasing Greatness - He lives it!
He has captivated auditoriums full of unruly teenage students, entertained masses of primary school kids, motivated executive educators, inspired University hopefuls and graduates alike, and enthralled sensitive parent bodies. His life experiences, infectious motivation and willingness to launch himself outside his comfort zone will give you a rare insight into just what the human spirit is capable of. Students feed off of his stories and leave his sessions energised to take on the world.
As well as completing his Masters degree in Behaviour and Coaching Psychology, David is always planning his next action-packed adventure. Not only does he speak about Chasing Greatness - He lives it!
What chasing greatness looks like for David -
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The Marathon Des SablesThe ultimate test of mental and physical endurance - racing across the Sahara Desert.
256km. 6 Days. Up to 52 degrees celcius. Completely self-sufficient racing (carrying everything, including an anti-venom pump and flare!) while raising money for Camp Quality. The toughest foot race on the planet. Enough said. |
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The Royal RunWhat could be more 'Royal" than a King running from the gates of Buckingham Palace to the drawbridge of Edinburgh Castle!
Covering 600km in 11 days makes this one of the toughest adventure David has undertaken. Running 50-60km a day will be punishing schedule but it is worth it if to raise valuable funds to help more cancer surviving kids chase their dreams. |
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8 Marathons I 8 States I 5 Months'Have Bear Will Run - Australia'
Raising over $14,000 for The Children's Hospital at Westmead, David successfully ran a marathon in every state of Australia in 5 months - with the Hospital Teddy Bear strapped to his back! ACT - Canberra Marathon VIC - Great Ocean Road Ultra WA - Perth Marathon QLD - Gold Coast Marathon NT - Australian Outback Marathon SA - Adelaide City Marathon TAS - Ross Marathon NSW - Sydney Blackmores Marathon This campaign culminated with David setting up the 'Lucian Page Scholarship'. |
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The 'Lucian Page Scholarship'Lucian was an amazing little man who brightened the life of every person he came in contact with. He was a bundle of energy and every moment spent with him was full of life!
With the money raised by David and his adventures, he has set up a scholarship, named in Lucian's honor, to provide an opportunity for cancer surviving students to show that same zest for life and follow their dreams into tertiary education. |
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The English ChannelProving no challenge is too great, David took on the freezing cold 35 km Channel swim in a bid to extend himself way beyond his comfort zone. 10 months of relentless training (without one hot shower...) could not have prepared him for what he confronted
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Run Across Spain I Camino de Santiago'Have Bear Will Run - International'
Raising money for the Lucian Page Scholarship fund, David successfully traversed 730km across the country of Spain in under 2 weeks! Traveling from Pamplona in the East to Santiago de Compostella in the West, David completed the Camino De Santiago (Walk of St James) in 12 grueling days. Journeying some 310kms in the first week, included running 6 ultra-marathons and one half-marathon in 7 days before climbing on a mountain bike and riding the remaining 420kms. It was a feat of endurance unlike any other he had experienced - encountering bone jarring terrain, energy sapping heat, lung busting mountains and long long days. All with the Bandage Bear right there behind him |
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Run Across Italy'Have Bear Will Run - International'
Raising money for the Lucian Page Scholarship fund, this adventure was significantly more difficult that the 250km running challenge suggested. Travelling from Pescara on the East Coast, through Rome and on to Lido de Ostia on the West Coast, David completed this run in 5 days through the Italian summer, battling temperature in the mid 30s and dodging road trains (trucks) that frequently had him scampering for cover. This self-sufficient run tested not only his physical and mental characteristics but also stretched him emotional, in a way he had not experienced before. Following a life-threatening experience on the first day of the journey, David was forced to call upon every reserve of strength and courage he could muster to continue on and complete this fund raising challenge. |
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ANZAC Ultra MarathonThe legend of ANZAC was born on 25 April 1915, and was reaffirmed in eight months’ of fighting on Gallipoli. The Australians displayed great courage, endurance, initiative, discipline, and mateship. Such qualities came to be seen as the ANZAC spirit.
The ANZAC Ultra Marathon saw David run over 200km in 3 and a half days, paying tribute and honouring the lives of the defence service men and women that defend Australian shores and have done since Gallipoli. |
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A Year of SacrificeWith so much excess in the modern-day lifestyle, David and his partner Sarah set themselves a challenge to attempt 12 unique sacrifices over 12 long months. Focusing on becoming more thankful, more appreciative, more understanding and to be more creative - It was a challenging adventure that continually revealed meaningful life lessons.
The 12 month-long sacrifices: JAN - No days off from training FEB - No Hot Showers (Yes, the shortest and hottest month!) MAR - No Sugar APR - No Meat MAY- No TV (included movies & YouTube) JUN - No Selfishness - This required a daily Random Act of Kindness JUL - No Texting AUG - No Caffeine SEP - No Social Media OCT - No Weaknesses - This required 120 strength exercises each day, as well as donating at least one piece of clothing to charity each day NOV - Learn something new plus 30 Min reading each day DEC - No isolation - Call someone new each day and re-connect with them |
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Education Coordinator I The Children's HospitalAlthough not considered your average 'adventure', working with children battling cancer at the Children's Hospital at Westmead is one of the most challenging roles that David has experienced.
It has been a humbling journey. To witness the incredible strength of the children and their families, as well as the limitless compassion and knowledge of the medical staff, has taught David more life lessons than any other experience he has encountered |
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The Kokoda Trail'Brutal' is the only way to describe the 96 km march through the depths of the Papua New Guinean jungle. Following in the footsteps of our unspeakably brave soldiers from the past, provided a real life insight into the strength of the human spirit. This ranks as one of the most debilitating yet inspiring adventures of David's short adventure career.
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India Immersion ProgramNumerous return visits, resulted in David setting up an Immersion Program to allow teachers and students to visit and experience the majestic yet confronting sights of India.
Working with schools, hospitals, orphanages, leper colonies and slums, these life changing experiences are now shared with countless staff and teenage students as they travel to India each year to offer support to those less fortunate. |
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Professional AthleteDavid has had the good fortune to spend years plying his trade as a professional athlete in both Australia and England. From a junior rugby league player with the North Sydney Bears to becoming a full time professional with the Canberra Raiders. All this before turning to the 'dark side' and taking up a number of rugby union contracts in the UK. Away from contact sports, David also had the privilege of represented England at the Touch World Cup in South Africa before becoming an endurance athlete.
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