Take a walk on the wild side

A GROUP of walkers will shrug off the cold of winter to go on an epic two-day walk from Hobart to the Huon Valley Mid-Winter Festival, via kunanyi/Mount Wellington.

The inaugural Huon Valley Mid-Winter Pilgrimage is a fundraiser developed by Tassie businesses Wild Pedder and Willie Smith’s Cider Makers.

They hope to raise $25,000 for emergency and crisis accommodation providers Bethlehem House and Hobart Women’s Shelter and have so far raised more than $3000.

“Many people feel incredibly fortunate that each night they get to go home to a warm house and a comfy bed,” Wild Pedder co-founder Cody McCracken said. “Reality for many people around Hobart is very different.”

Huon Valley Mid-Winter Festival manager Krystal Cox said it was an ambitious figure.

“We want to make a real difference. We want to see the money go into some real-life projects and help people in need,” she said.

Hobart Women’s Shelter chief executive Janet Saunders said donations would support development of new programs and activities at the shelter.

“In the 2016-17 financial year, we received over 3000 accommodation requests which were an increase of 215 per cent on the previous year,” she said.

“The current rental crisis is causing very significant challenges for us in finding safe and affordable housing for women and their children who are staying with us.”

Participants depart Bethlehem House on Thursday, July 12, at 9am. For information: www.mycause.com.au.page/175 324/huon-valley-midwinterfest-pilgrimage