The Just Like Jack community enables children with disabilities and their families to experience adventures that they would not normally be able to experience in order to get the most out of life.

Written by Dad Lucas.

Robbie just turned 2, and he is a very happy boy. Robbie likes noisy toys, music, his tambourine, his swing and bubbles. He loves his family, dancing, tickles and backpack or shoulder rides. Robbie cackles and smiles when we go pram running, and he leads me in all directions from our Trevallyn house, mostly up hills... Trevallyn dam, West Launny, the Gorge and the dreaded Rowsphorn Road. Our first event was the 2019 Burnie 10, and we just did the Ross Half Marathon.
 
Pram running ticks so many boxes for us. I get exercise, time with Robbie and an emotional boost, Robbie sees sights and gets some sun, and Rachael gets a break, gardening time and has a swoon when she sees her men arrive back home.
 
I'm proud to wear my JLJ shirt whenever I run with him, and I like to feel I'm putting him on display - PEG tube and all - for the world to see how much fun a boy from the hidden parallel universe of disability can have.

Robbie and his awesome Dad, Lucas, completed the half marathon at the 2020 Ross Running Festival and raised over $8000 for Just Like Jack. Robbie has the most contagious smile and he and his Dad are an inspiration to us all. Thank you so much for the support and for showing everyone that children with disabilities can do just about anything with the right support.

Even though Just Like Jack didn’t formally enter Ross Marathon as an organisation (due to COVID concerns) - a few Just Like Jack families were out and about. Robbie, Rohan, Felix and Veronica looked like they had a ball.

A massive thank you to our ambassador Sam Penny and Helen Shadforth at Cheese Therapy for the $1875 raised for Just Like Jack through the cheese for good program. This couple go out of their way to help others and are infectious with their enthusiasm in everything they do. Sam was planning to come to Tasmania in late 2020 to go running with Chris and Jack but COVID put that on hold. We can't wait to see Sam (and Helen) come back to play with the Just Like Jack Crew!!

The Just Like Jack AGM was held in October 2020 via Zoom.

Thanks to the general committee for their ongoing work and for generously volunteering their valuable time. The 2019/2020 committee included:

Mark Gleeson

Scott Hunter

Vic Magnotta

Lindy Conway

Andrew Cowley

Annie Duffy

Amanda Slater

Chris Duffy

Erin Duffy

At the 2020 AGM, Mark Gleeson retired as the Director of Just Like Jack but remains a general committee member. Scott Hunter resigned his position on the committee.

Mark Gleeson has been the Director of Just Like Jack since its incorporation in January 2017. Mark has been a part of Jack's adventures since 2015 as part of the Overland Jack team. He spent tireless hours working behind the scenes to ensure that children with a disability have the opportunity to experience adventures and to promote awareness of Just Like Jack itself. Mark steered a brand new incorporation from an idea into a professional not-for-profit organisation with a formal operating committee, strategic plan and financial support. Mark is an extremely busy man who has always found time for others around him. We would like to thank Mark for his passion and professionalism and look forward to him continuing on as a general committee member. 
 
Scott Hunter resigned from the committee after several years of volunteering his time and considerable skills. Scott has been a participant in many Just Like Jack events. He is one of those committee members that is hands on and willing to pitch in wherever it helps - from maintaining and servicing Just Like Jack equipment to being one of the driving forces behind some major fundraisers. While he is resigning from the Just Like Jack committee he remains a good friend of both Jack himself and the Just Like Jack crew and will no doubt be called on for chair maintenance into the future.
 
The current Just Like Committee will confirm upcoming events early in 2021. We look forward to getting out and about again (in a COVID safe manner) and would love to hear any adventure requests!

We are always looking for interested families for our upcoming events, if you know someone that we can help get more out of life, please contact us. 

If anyone is interested in pushing kids for our events please contact us. We can always use help from non-running volunteers too.

Don’t forget some of the Just Like Jack crew are usually at the Launceston Parkrun every Saturday morning.

For more information www.justlikejack.com.au