More than 1000 people are set to take on “Australia’s toughest team endurance event” in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, to raise funds for local youth programs.
Groups of two to five people will take part in the Kokoda Challenge, an annual charity event that honours the legacy of the Australian Diggers who fought in the Kokoda Campaign during 1942.
They will traverse Imbil State Forest near Kenilworth, some choosing to trail run 18km, 30km and 48km, on a course that consists of over 1700m of elevation.
Last year, the event raised more than $160,000 for local youth programs, and the 48km trail was described by participants as one of the hardest things they’d ever done. The final team completed the challenge in 16.5 hours.
The course includes crossing a knee-high creek, scaling mountains with peaks of 400m and a 20-hour time limit to reach the finish line.
This year, even more teams are expected to hit the trails for the event, which is organised by local charity the Kokoda Youth Foundation.
In the lead-up, teams have been participating in fundraising activities to support the foundation’s mentoring programs, which have helped more than 652 young people across Australia since 2004.
One of these programs, a Digital Detox camp, will be held in Kenilworth later this year.
Program manager Chris Emert said kids would spend quality time away from their devices.
“This fully funded, eight-day adventure camp will combine challenging outdoor activities with mindfulness techniques such as breathing and meditation, helping children understand the impact of technology on their mental health and develop skills to manage their relationship with devices,” he said.
The Kokoda Challenge, which is on Saturday, April 22, will start with a commemorative service to honour Kokoda veterans and other men and women in service.
Registrations close on Friday, April 19, unless sold out prior.
Kokoda Challenge events are also scheduled for Brisbane, Gold Coast and Lake Macquarie during the year.
