Age no barrier for Kokoda trek team
THEY have a combined age of 245 but it didn’t stop this team from taking on the Kokoda Challenge over the weekend.
Wayne Sendall, 72, Rhonda Walters, 71, Greg Mather, 72, and Ryan Whitehead, 30, from the Gold Coast Bushwalking Club were just some of 2300 hikers making the 96km trek from Mudgeeraba to Nerang.
A former outdoor education teacher, Mr Mather said he had been wanting to try the walk since moving to the Coast four years ago.
“Even when I first arrived and heard about it, I set myself that challenge and I really wanted to achieve this, it’s taken a bit of time,” he said.
“I had misgivings all the time, especially the night before the event. I just didn’t think I’d done enough training, I really didn’t.
“But out there during the event I was really confident I was going to be able to finish. It’s an amazing feeling to have achieved this with some friends, I don’t know whether any sporting event I’ve ever competed in would have matched this.”
The group completed the challenge in 27hrs 23min.
The Kokoda Challenge raises funds for the Kokoda Youth Foundation, which runs life skills programs for 15-17 year olds. The Gold Coast event has already raised more than $570,000 of its $800,000 goal.
There were still just less than 100 hikers yet to finish the course late last night, with event director Kelly McDonnell saying they were doing it hardest.
“It’s going to be tough for them coming in to the second night, it’s getting dark and that’s making it harder,” she said. “But because they’re pretty close to the finish line now they should make it. It’s been a good weekend, everyone’s had a ball.
“Even though it’s a mass participation event it’s got a community feel to it. The volunteers have been with us for 15 years, they keep coming back.”