Czech Tennis Ace Runs Melbourne Marathon For Brainwave's Kids In Need

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When Czech tennis champ Pavlina Ticha moved to Melbourne five years ago she threw herself into her new community with the same passion that made her so formidable on court.

The former European Junior Masters and Team World Championship winner joined the international coaching team at Elsternwick Park Tennis Centre and began sharing her skills with juniors, adults and high performance athletes alike. She has picked up a swag of award nominations along the way, including Tennis Victoria’s 2014 ANZ Tennis Hot Shots Coaching Excellence Award and the 2014 Cardio Tennis Gamechanger of the Year Award.

Now Pavlina has set herself a fresh challenge: to run the gruelling 42 kilometre Medibank Melbourne Marathon on Sunday 12 October to raise funds for Brainwave, Australia’s only charity supporting the families of children with brain illnesses and injuries. It’s a cause close to her heart and she discovered it, fittingly enough, on the tennis court.

“One of my students works for Brainwave and she told me about all the practical help this charity gives to families who are doing it tough,” Pavlina said. “Brainwave funds essentials like wheelchairs and ongoing therapies, which can be hard to afford when one parent has to give up their job to care for a sick child. And it hosts free family fun days to give everyone a break and help connect people facing similar challenges who could otherwise become quite isolated.

“I’m a practical person so that kind of practical approach appeals to me. Plus I’ve done a couple of half marathons in the past, so I figure I’m ready to tackle this next big goal. I’ve been training and preparing for months. There are just a few weeks to go now and I’m more than half way towards my fundraising target.”

To follow Pavlina’s Melbourne Marathon bid or make a donation: http://melbournemarathon2014.gofundraise.com.au/page/pavlina

www.facebook.com/pavlinatichaaus

Twitter: @tichapavlina

ABOUT BRAINWAVE

Brainwave Australia (http://brainwave.org.au/) has been supporting families caring for kids with brain injuries and illnesses for 20 years. Founder Jo Nicholls launched Brainwave when her son Nicholas was diagnosed with a brain tumour. She saw how many families struggled to cope with the financial, emotional and social pressures of providing ongoing care for children suffering from conditions as diverse as stroke, MS and epilepsy. Brainwave provides practical assistance with much-needed rehabilitation and mobility equipment and hosts family activities that connect people with shared challenges, providing some fun and relief for families living with debilitating conditions.