Col, 79, hikes for kids
BELGIAN GARDENS man Col Reynolds has a steely focus to make a difference to the lives of kids living with cancer.
And at a time when most would be happy to take it easy, the 79- year- old is in training to tackle Kokoda in May next year, a month after he turns 80.
“I plan to walk it both ways,” he said. “I know 80year- olds have done Kododa but I don’t think any, or many, have done it back to back.
“I’ll do anything to raise funds for childhood cancer.”
The charity Mr Reynolds formed 25 years ago, The Kids Cancer Project, has to date pumped an incredible $ 40 million into research into how to destroy Australia’s biggest killer of children from disease.
Mr Reynolds established the independent national charity in 1993 after discovering funding research and clinical trials were the only way to stop a childhood cancer.
He said he initially became aware of kids’ cancer when he was driving past a children’s hospital in 1983.
Mr Reynolds, who was a national tourist bus driver at the time, was moved to invest his time and energy into taking affected children on fun day trips.
But after seeing too many children die or live with the effects of cancer, he realised he wanted to give them much more than just one day.
“In 1993, when I started the charity, there was little research being done to beat childhood cancer,” he said. “No one wanted to spend money because they couldn’t see results. What they wanted to do was buy medical equipment.”
Mr Reynolds, a father of three, who lived in Sydney until moving to Townsville 15 years ago, was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2000 for his charity work.
“I moved to Townsville for love and I’ll never leave now,” he said. “I’ve travelled Australia many times over and I can say Townsville is paradise.”
To help support The Kids Cancer Project go to http://www.thekidscancerproj-ect.org.au