DOCTOR’S EPIC TREK FOR CHARITY

IT’S been seven long weeks, but Hobart doctor Kirsty O’Neill is nearing the end of an epic 500km trek through wilderness to raise money for a charity close to her heart.

Ms O’Neill, an emergency medicine registrar at the Royal Hobart Hospital, set off from Penguin almost two months ago and is expecting to reach her ultimate destination of Cockle Creek in the deep south by the end of this week.

Originally from the UK, Ms O’Neill has lived in Tasmania for the past six years. A passionate hiker, she is fundraising for overseas crisis support charity LBT Global, which helped her and her family in their time of need.

Ms O’Neill’s late brother Alex died by suicide in Denmark in 2019, and LBT Global helped her family in securing the return of his remains to the UK.

“In the beginning, we were shell-shocked and didn’t know what to do,” she wrote on the website for the fundraiser. “We spent a lot of time trying to figure out simply how to get (Alex) back home.

“When we found LBT Global, it was a bit like finding shelter and they’ve walked with us ever since.”

Ms O’Neill’s fantastic voyage has taken her through remote trackless wilderness and across winding rivers and crystalline lakes. At the time of print, she had raised £3156 ($5943) for LBT Global.

Her sister Sophie, who is based in the UK, said Kirsty was travelling off-grid, and carrying with her a dinghy to cross various waterways.

“Whilst being a doctor is her career, her real passion is for hardcore trekking,” Sophie said. “And Tasmania has proved to be hardcore.

“Kirsty truly comes alive when the words such as remote terrain, extreme hiking and wild camping are whispered.

“And her expeditions are never short – she always makes them extreme.”

LBT Global said it was “very grateful” for Ms O’Neill’s dedication.

“We are astounded by Kirsty’s efforts,” the charity said via Twitter.