DAMIEN’S LONG WALK NO BARRIER FOR FUNDRAISER
LABRADOR local Damien Williams was robbed of his eyesight 25 years ago. Now he’s embarking on a 12-hour charity walkathon to raise money for Make a Wish Australia.
Mr Williams, 52, hopes to lap the 3.5km circuit at Harley Park at least 20 times between 5am and 5pm today, stopping only for bathroom breaks and aided by his fitness team to keep him on track.
Despite losing his sight in two separate freak accidents, Mr Williams has spent the better part of two decades waking up at 4am and exercising between four to eight hours daily.
He said the drive to push past his lack of sight stemmed from his charity work, interacting with people who were often afflicted with conditions “worse” than blindness.
“Some people have got it a lot worse off than I have,” he said.
“After losing my sight I was getting bored and wanted to do something and so I got back into sports … soon I was venturing into road cycling and won Australian titles.
“I would hear parents who have got kids that are high needs and are quite ill or in hospital for a long time – they don’t get a chance to save the money and go away on trips with their kids because their child is either too sick to travel, or it’s not affordable.
“So I thought why not delve in and try and fundraise a few thousand dollars and help at least one person out?”
While his disability prevents him from being able to work most jobs, Mr Williams said the challenge of sports and reward of charity work gave him a “greater sense of purpose”.
Mr Williams has so far raised $480 of his $5000 target.
To donate go to fundraise.makeawish.org.au/ fundraisers/damienwilliams