History in the Making

Creating television history, Mitchell will walk for the first time on
Channel Seven morning TV program “Sunrise”.

Born 13 weeks premature and weighing just 1000 grams, Mitchell Raimund wasn’t given much chance of surviving past a few weeks. Doctors told his parents that if he did survive they should not expect him to hear, see, speak or walk. They were also told that he would spend his life curled up in the foetal position.

Life has been a struggle for Mitchell; he has undergone surgery on more than 30 occasions and has cerebral palsy which affects his ability to walk.

Yet today the bright seven-and-half-yearold is full of life and looking forward to new challenges. He attends the Smythesdale campus of the Woody Yaloak Primary School, where his favourite subjects are science, computers, art and recess. He also attends the Ballarat Specialist School for two days a week where he can hone in on his swimming and musical skills.

Mitchell’s favourite television shows are Who Wants to be a Millionaire, Guinness Book of Records and Deal Or No Deal. When he grows up, he wants to become a chef and “cook like Jamie Oliver”.

Mitchell has defied everything that his initial doctors had told his parents except one thing – he wants to walk so much that he asked his parents on his seventh birthday, “now that I’m seven, will I walk?”

Well, yes Mitchell, you shall walk. With sponsorship from the Lions Club of Ballarat,Mitchell will soon achieve his ambition to walk in quite a spectacular way.

On February 20, 2006, Mitchell will create history and become the first person ever to take his first steps on live television.

Channel Seven’s Sunrise show will feature Mitchell receiving his David Hart Walker and taking his very first independent steps – and it will be seen live around the country.

This special moment is not to be missed, and Lions from around Australia are urged to set your alarm clocks for an early wakeup (tell the boss you will be late for work, grab a box of tissues and watch the program).

We also have an opportunity to influence the television stations by writing to the Sunrise producers and passing on our comments about the segment.

The best way to contact them is via email on sunrise@seven.com.au

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