CANCER charities are always searching for unique ways to engage communities with one-off fundraising efforts and one Katherine woman has stepped up to the challenge by preparing to trek between two Top End RAAF bases in April.
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Expected to complete the 330 kilometres over six days, camping at the side of the road as she walks, Air Force member Alicia Bannerman – who is posted to RAAF Base Tindal – said she hoped to raise $5000 for Cancer Council NT.
“Many people are affected by the impact of cancer on either family or friends,” she said.
“Cancer has unfortunately had an impact on our family over the past years, so having the chance to share information and raise money to find a cure is very close to my heart.”
Previous fundraisers have ridden from Katherine to Darwin but Mrs Bannerman wanted to set herself a bigger challenge.
“It’s a bit more of a challenge doing 50 or 60km a day,” she said.
Mrs Bannerman will lace up her shoes and aim towards RAAF Base Darwin on April 11, and wants as many Katherinites as possible to join her on the first leg from Tindal to Katherine.
Even though the walk to Katherine will make up less than 5 per cent of Mrs Bannerman’s overall trip, she said it might be too far for those who are not used to pounding the bitumen for extended periods.
“It’s about 15km though, so I don’t know if anyone will want to walk that far,” she laughed.
Mrs Bannerman has started recording her training on her Facebook page, including a “little stroll” from earlier this month showing a five-hour, 30km journey.
Donations have already started to flow in and Mrs Bannerman said she was considering leaving her fundraising page open for two weeks after she finished her trek.
“People might not want to donate until I’ve actually finished it,” she said.
To donate and keep up to date on Mrs Bannerman’s impressive fundraising feat in the lead-up to it starting, check out her Facebook page – Walk for a Cure, Not All Wars Are Fought with Guns.