Fundraising Recap | Activate Exercise Physiology

Fundraising Recap: 4 Years of The Sled Challenge Fundraiser

June 12, 2026

At Activate Allied Health, supporting our local community has always been about more than providing exceptional therapy services. Since opening our doors in 2021, we have been fortunate to build strong relationships with the families, schools, and organisations that make our community so special.

Each year, we host our Annual Christmas Party and Fundraiser as a way of thanking our incredible clients, families, and staff for their support throughout the year. While the event is a celebration, it also provides an opportunity for our community to come together and make a meaningful difference for local specialist schools.

Over the past four years, the Activate community has proudly raised funds for Belmore School, Giant Steps Melbourne, Bulleen Heights School, and Andale School. Together, we have helped these schools purchase equipment, resources, and facilities that support students' learning, wellbeing, and participation.

As we reflect on the past four years, we are incredibly proud of what our community has achieved.

2022– Supporting Belmore School

One of our most memorable fundraising events was our 2022 fundraiser for Belmore School.

The day brought together clients, families, staff, and supporters who generously contributed to a cause that would directly benefit students at the school. We were fortunate to revisit Belmore and see first-hand the impact of the funds raised.

Thanks to the generosity of the Activate community, Belmore School was able to purchase a range of specialist equipment, including:

Play equipment
Exercise swings
Vibration platforms
Flotation equipment for hydrotherapy

These resources have helped improve accessibility and increase opportunities for participation in physical activity and therapy for students.

Seeing the difference these resources have made for students reinforced exactly why we continue to host these events each year.

2023– Fundraising for Giant Steps Melbourne

In 2023, we proudly supported Giant Steps Melbourne, a remarkable school dedicated to educating and supporting children with autism.

Our fundraiser brought together clients, families, and staff in an unforgettable day filled with energy, connection, and community spirit. One of the highlights of the event was our sled-push challenge, where the Activate team enthusiastically pushed the sled to generate funds for the school.

The atmosphere throughout the day was incredible. The loud cheers, encouragement, and excitement created a memorable experience for everyone involved.

That year, we also combined our Annual Christmas Party with the fundraiser. This created a unique opportunity to connect with our community outside of regular therapy sessions. Families, clients, and staff were able to share food, enjoy meaningful conversations, and strengthen the relationships that make our community so special.

Being surrounded by people who genuinely care about supporting one another made the day both rewarding and inspiring. It was a powerful reminder of the impact that can be achieved when a community comes together for a common cause.

2024– Giving Back to Bulleen Heights School

In 2024, our Annual Christmas Party and Fundraiser supported Bulleen Heights School.

The event once again brought together the Activate community to celebrate another successful year while raising funds for an incredible local school. Thanks to the generosity of everyone involved, we raised more than $7,000 for the school.

Our annual fundraiser has become one of the highlights of the year. Not only does it allow us to recognise our clients' commitment to their health and wellbeing, but it also provides an opportunity to give back to organisations that are making a difference in our community.

Earlier this year, we were honoured to attend the Bulleen Heights Colour Fun Run, where the school thanked us for our fundraising efforts.

Thanks to the funds raised, Bulleen Heights was able to install new playground equipment and rubber flooring, helping students stay active, engaged, and safe during recess and lunch.

We were warmly welcomed by the students and staff, and it was incredibly moving to hear school captains Costas and Dylan speak about the positive impact these improvements have had on their school community.

Moments like these remind us that every donation, no matter the size, contributes to creating meaningful opportunities for local students.

2025 – Supporting Andale School

This year, the Activate community proudly supported Andale School.

Recently, we had the opportunity to visit the school and see the results of this year's fundraising efforts.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, Andale has installed a brand-new jungle gym at its Kew campus. The school shared that the equipment has quickly become one of the most popular features of the playground, with students eager to use it every day.

Principal Rachel explained that the new playground provides students with valuable opportunities to regulate, stay active, build confidence, and engage in creative play during recess.

Hearing how much the students are enjoying the new equipment and seeing the direct impact of our fundraising efforts was incredibly rewarding.

We are grateful to Andale for welcoming us and allowing us to witness the difference that community support can make.

The Power of Community

While each year's fundraiser supports a different school, the common thread throughout every event has been the generosity, kindness, and commitment of the Activate community.

Every donation, every attendee, and every supporter has helped create opportunities for students to learn, play, participate, and thrive.

What began as a simple fundraising initiative has grown into a tradition that reflects the values at the heart of Activate Allied Health; community, connection, inclusion, and giving back.

We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved together over the past four years and grateful to everyone who has played a part along the way.

To our clients, families, staff, and supporters: thank you.

Your generosity is making a real difference in the lives of local students and their families.

We look forward to continuing this tradition for many years to come and supporting even more wonderful organisations within our community.

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Understanding Tendinopathy Tendinopathy is a condition affecting tendons, often caused by overuse, repetitive strain, or age-related degeneration. It can present as either acute inflammation or chronic tendon degeneration. Common areas affected include the Achilles tendon, gluteal tendon, rotator cuff, patellar tendon, and the elbow, commonly known as tennis or golfer’s elbow. These conditions can lead to discomfort, pain, and movement limitations. What Causes Tendinopathy? Tendinopathy is primarily caused by overload, repetitive motions, or sudden increases in activity intensity, which can lead to changes in tendon tissue. There are several risk factors associated with tendinopathy that can be divided into modifiable and non-modifiable categories. Modifiable Risk Factors Strength Flexibility Biomechanics Metabolic disorders such as diabetes or arthritis Weight Hormonal influences Sleep and stress Non-Modifiable Risk Factors Age-related degeneration Gender Genetics Structural characteristics Previous injuries Drug exposure It is important to recognise the interplay between modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors. A holistic approach focused on managing modifiable factors can help reduce risk and support tendon health. How Is Tendinopathy Diagnosed? Tendinopathy is diagnosed through a combination of clinical assessment and physical examination. A clinical assessment may include: Understanding an individual’s history Reviewing individual signs and symptoms Exercise Physiologists will typically begin with a physical examination, including: Evaluating pain, tenderness, and movement restrictions Inquiring about activity levels, including recent increases in physical load Assessing the presence of other health conditions Typical clinical presentations include: Localised pain Discomfort following a sudden increase in activity Pain aggravated by continuous load, though it may temporarily improve during movement A proportional relationship between load and pain Pain and stiffness in the mornings While imaging may reveal structural changes such as degeneration, it cannot definitively differentiate between a tendon tear and severe tendinopathy. Imaging should not be used as the sole diagnostic tool and is primarily helpful for ruling out other conditions or identifying referred pain from different areas. How Does Exercise Influence Tendinopathy? Exercise is one of the most effective tools for treating and strengthening tendons affected by tendinopathy. Loading the tendon and surrounding muscles through exercise can help with immediate pain reduction and strengthen the muscle-tendon unit. Properly structured exercise programs help to: Stimulate tendon repair Enhance tendon quality and strength Restore overall function What Is the Best Way to Manage Tendinopathy? There are three essential interventions for managing tendinopathy: Implementing an individualised exercise plan to gradually progress exposure to load for better tolerance and function Managing load outside the rehabilitation program Understanding pain, managing risk factors, and learning how to manage exercise load When managing tendinopathy through an exercise rehabilitation program, it is important to consider an individual’s response to physical stress. This is measured through load tolerance. Load tolerance refers to the amount of pain-free force an individual can produce or absorb for a specific movement over a specified period of time while still maintaining control of the movement. Adequate load tolerance includes: Acceptable pain during activity Pain that settles within a day What Is Acceptable Pain? Training within a pain range of 0–4 out of 10 is considered acceptable. Pain rated 5 out of 10 or higher may be problematic. Exercise Recommendations For any exercise rehabilitation program, it is important to gradually and progressively load the tendon and muscle while remaining within acceptable load tolerance parameters. Load response should continue to be monitored throughout the program. Example Exercise Loading Progressions for Patellar Tendinopathy Knee extension Leg press (double then single) Split squat Step up Walking lunges Higher step for step up Jumping and hopping Split jumps Maximal forward hop References Goom, T.S., Malliaras, P., Reiman, M.P. and Purdam, C.R., 2016. Proximal hamstring tendinopathy: clinical aspects of assessment and management. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 46(6), pp.483–493. Malliaras, P. and O’Neill, S., 2017. Potential risk factors leading to tendinopathy. Apunts. Medicina de l’Esport, 52(194), pp.71–77. Malliaras, P., Cook, J., Purdam, C. and Rio, E., 2015. Patellar tendinopathy: clinical diagnosis, load management, and advice for challenging case presentations. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 45(11), pp.887–898. Malliaras, P., 2024. Mastering Lower Limb Tendinopathy 5th edition ONLINE.