Isaiah Vidler's Walkathon

This September, in honour of Hydrocephalus Awareness Month, Isaiah Vidler raised over $1,000 for the HSA through his Walking for The Brain fundraiser.

The fundraiser enlisted Isaiah's university classmates to undertake the 16km walk from Dapto Ribbonhood Centre to Wollongong Crown Central to raise awareness for Hydrocephalus. On the day of the walk itself, participants dwindled from approximately twelve to three, thanks to weather that left Isaiah and his classmates drenched. Despite this challenge, the team were able to raise a whopping $1,045 for the association, exceeding their fundraising goal of $1,000.

Hydrocephalus Support Association (HSA) member, Isaiah Vidler, is studying journalism at the University of Wollongong. He is also a Hydrocephalus Warrior. You can read more about his Hydrocephalus journey, in his own words, below.

"First diagnosed at five months I have battled hydrocephalus through my childhood and adult life. I’ve had seventeen shunt revisions, my first VP Shunt was implanted into my brain when I was two years old.

I have struggled with epilepsy that has been put upon me by the hydrocephalus, I have seizures nearly every week. When I was young I died in the operating theatre during surgery and I was very lucky and grateful for the surgeons to bring me back to life. Throughout my teens I struggled to gain weight and dealt with a large amount of depression, missing a lot of school due to being in hospital for large periods of time.

I am now 23 years old, I am studying journalism at the University of Wollongong with the aim of a future career in foreign and war corresponding. I also have a future determination for studying a PhD in international relations.

For those who live with Hydrocephalus, never let it stop you!"

-Isaiah Vidler, 2022

If you have fundraising news you would like to share with the HSA, please send an email to news@hydrocephalus.org.au.