The target keeps moving higher for two Cobar nurses who took on one of Australia’s most iconic treks in aid of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS)’s South Eastern section.
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Lisa Spinks and Beau Webster work at the Cobar Health Service, where they see firsthand the amazing work of the ‘flying doctors’.
And last week they took on 98 kilometres of the Larapinta Trail – including a 16-kilometre round trip of Mount Sonder – to raise money for the RFDS SE.
When they left for the Northern Territory, their fundraising goal was $25,000 but, with more than $6000 in donations pouring in while they were away, they’re now aiming to raise $30,000. The original target was just $5000.
“It was tough but it was amazing,” Lisa said of their week-long trek.
“Everyday was some solid walking and mountain climbing and the terrain was rocky and uneven and steep but we got through it.
“We climbed three big mountains … we climbed a mountain with an elevation of 1400 metres which was really tough, we started walking at three in the morning to be up there by 7am for sunrise and seeing the sunrise over the West MacDonnell Ranges was amazing.
“We battled blisters and sunburn and windburn, but we finished and we were stoked to get through it all.”
Even the other trekkers, who Lisa and Beau had never met before, donated to the cause.
They returned home to Cobar on Monday, and Lisa said the response has been unbelievable.
“We’re getting pulled up in the street!” Lisa said.
“The community has always been behind us but the interest is growing because we’re finished now and everyone wants to celebrate. It’s a nice feeling.”
Their attention now turns to Saturday’s Masters Rugby League Carnival (organised by the Cohoe Roosters), and their so-called ‘Wrap Party’ and charity auction.
A range of NRL players have donated items to the auction, including: the jersey (signed) that St George Illawarra Dragon’s Joel Thompson (Lisa’s cousin) wore in his first City v Country Origin game; Jack Wighton’s Indigenous round Canberra Raiders jersey, and; Australian test captain Cameron Smith’s Indigenous round Melbourne Storm jersey (signed).
“I think we’ve got a lot of people coming from Bourke, Ivanhoe, Nyngan and Hay, so it’s going to be a great opportunity and celebrate what we’ve done,” Lisa said.
“And the money is going to stay in our area … and it’s going to benefit not just Cobar but Dubbo, Nyngan, Bourke, Ivanhoe…
“It’s a big thing to ask people for money and we’re just so thankful that businesses, as well as individuals, were willing to donate to us.”