Danny’s epic race mission
IT was dream came true for Mission Beach’s Danny Reed recently when he crossed the finish line at the Ona Mission Multisport Adventure Race to raucous cheers.
The 21-year-old, who has muscular dystrophy, raced down the beach in a wheelchair pushed by childhood schoolmate, Cody Shaw, as part of a team that came together under Danny’s name.
“He saw people in the Ona Mission T-shirts after last year’s event and said he wanted to do it – he’s been talking about it for a long time so we made it happen,’’ family friend Sheryl Shaw said.
She recruited her son Cody as the runner and Danny’s carer Angela Dearlove enlisted her son, Jacob, as rider. Then Ms Shaw phoned a long-time competitor Phil Berry-Porter to see if he could paddle Mr Reed to Dunk Island in a double sea kayak. And Ms Dearlove’s other son, Scott, began organising team T-shirts.
“We told Danny he was in the race and to see his face…,’’ Ms Shaw said.
“He was lost for words.’’ Cassowary Coast Multisport
Club president Richard Blanchette said “Captain Danny’s” team had made this year a special one.
“We had competitors from across Queensland here for our ‘adventure in paradise’ but it was this team and all of Danny’s supporters that really heightened the atmosphere,”
he said. Townsville’s Sam Stedman earned another Ona Mission title in the solo long course after four hours and 22 minutes of racing, coming in ahead of Allan Jefferson, also from Townsville, while Mission Beach’s Julie Lightfoot won the long course women’s event ahead
of Townsville’s Julia Anderson. In the short course, Brisbane’s Tim Whitburn won the men’s event, ahead of Mission Beach’s Luke Tamblyn and Ben Felan while Kathy White was a hometown women’s champion with Brisbane’s Amanda Attard finishing second.
The Ona Mission Multisport Adventure Race combines running, paddling and mountain biking.
“Ona Mission showcases our region – with spectacular locations, world-class trails and the vibe and energy of our volunteers,’’ Mr Blanchette said.