Community & Business
18 June, 2023
Desert trek for cause
A local man will be walking 150km across the Qaa Track carrying a water trough all for a good cause, raising awareness and funds for Diabetes Australia.
A local man will be walking 150km across the Qaa Track carrying a water trough all for a good cause, raising awareness and funds for Diabetes Australia.
Stretching from the border of Queensland, South Australia and Northern Territory through to Birdsville, Ravenshoe local Luke Way will be taking on the challenge in July – his motivation for the challenge being his brothers, who both suffer from the disease.
“One of them was effected really dramatically and I was really shocked by his physical change as he had become an incredibly lean person,” Luke said.
“The disease effects people in different ways and one of the first ways to try and counteract those effects is by losing weight and that just made me think of the about how many challenges people with diabetes face.
“I thought to ‘myself how lucky am I to be able to do physical things I want to’, and I thought I would make something positive out of this and that’s where my idea came from.”
Luke sought out the most “appealing way” to gain attention and raise awareness and the trek through the desert was his lightbulb idea. With only 25 days’ worth of water in his water trough and pure determination, Luke is ready to take on the mission he has set himself and has already begun practicing in the hills of Ravenshoe.
Having to wrestle hundreds of steep sand dunes, practicing on the hilly Tablelands has allowed him to condition himself before he leaves on 1 July.
So far, Luke has raised over $600 of his $10,000 goal and hopes to hit his goal before he sets off with all funds being donated directly to Diabetes Australia. To donate, visit www.personalchallenge.gofundraise.com.au/page/Luke-65854518
