We are doing this trek to do our bit to help fellow Australians. Please sponsor me as we endeavour to raise over $80,000 for Lifeline's Online Crisis Support Chat service. This online chat service will enable us to reach more people.

This will be, without doubt, the most physically challenging thing I have ever done, yet it took me 30 seconds to decide to go.  I am a volunteer telephone crisis support person with Lifeline Newcastle & Hunter Centre and every time I go on shift I know how important it is for someone in trouble to have someone to talk to. 

The online service is currently available 8pm to 12 midnight, Sydney Time, 7 days a week.  Follow this link:  

https://www.lifeline.org.au/Get-Help/Online-Services/crisis-chat

Alternatively, call 13 1114 for our 24hour Telephone Crisis Line.

I want to thank Lifeline Newcastle & Hunter for their support and encouragement and all my fellow Telephone Crisis Supporters and Online Chat Supporters for the great work we do each and every day.  I am honoured to be one of your number.

Please support this great cause.  Together we make a difference.

During this walk we will be on Brigade Hill for Anzac Day 2014.  I am asking everyone who donates to send me the name of someone they would like commemorated on that day.  I will be taking these names with me (laminated) and reading them out after the dawn service.  This may be the name of someone who was on Kokoda or someone you want remembered for any number of reasons.

As I am doing my training for this event and thinking about the enormity of what I have committed to - 96km over 8 days - only 1 hour of flat land - I remind myself that our callers have to cope with far more pain every day.  This is for them.