16 April 2015
Believe it or not, you can draw quite a few similarities between trekking through a desert and living in aged care as a young person. Both experiences are draining and uncomfortable, and can leave you feeling incredibly isolated. Every day is the same, and there appears to be no end in sight as you look ahead into the horizon.
And that’s what it’s like for a young person living in aged care.
That’s what the Youngcare Simpson Desert Challenge is all about. There are just three weeks to go until our brave trekkers carry the world and their belonging on their shoulders for over 300km through the harsh and unrelenting Simpson Desert. They’ll experience extreme temperatures, basic rations, no bedding, no showers, no toilets and a relentless horizon. Our trekkers know it is going to be one seriously tough challenge, but they’re committed to raising funds and awareness to shine a light on what life is like day in day out for a young person living in aged care.
Four of our trekkers are from Youngcare’s Foundation Partner, Suncorp Insurance, who have been a fantastic supporter since our early days. Dan Wilkinson, Paul Lawton, Scott Younes and Terry Phillis are colleagues who really get the cause, and they’re busy preparing for a life-changing adventure. On top of some pretty gruelling training (they’ll never look at Mount Coot-tha the same way again), these four brave guys have committed to raising $250,000 for young Aussies with high care needs.
Scott Younes admits he’s not looking forward to the mice and rats he’s likely to encounter on the trek, but he’s committed to helping create change for young people with high care needs.
“I will be thinking of all the young people who are doing it tough and have had their lives altered so dramatically in a matter of seconds. That motivation will help drive me through any temporary pain.
“I am really looking forward to the physical challenge, the camaraderie that will exist and the mutual sense of satisfaction that we will achieve in raising money for this brilliant cause,” Scott says.
Not only will completing the Simpson Desert Challenge be a huge personal achievement for the Youngcare trekkers, their journey will help inspire meaningful change and raise vital funds to ensure more young Aussies with high care needs don’t have to face desert-like isolation and a lack of choice and dignity.
Youngcare wishes the trekkers the greatest of luck on their inspirational journey as they move closer to their departure date of Wednesday, 6 May 2015, and as they strive to meet their fitness and fundraising goals.
Click HERE to meet the full cast of trekkers, and to support them in this epic challenge.
