A 230km desert journey of courage
By Lucia Jimenez
This past May, Youngcare board director Wendy Jones took on the nine-day Munga-Thirri Simpson Desert challenge, walking 230km and raising $103,623 for Youngcare.
The Brisbane based non-profit organization strives to support young people with disabilities to become independent individuals.
“The harsh isolated conditions were to replicate what a day is like for a young person with complex physical disability,” Ms Jones said.
She reflected on the most challenging part of the trek, a rainy day when she and the trekking team walked in thick mud and were soaked to the skin.
“That was a really hard day,” she said.
Although it was physically and emotionally demanding, Ms Jones described her experience as a journey of appreciation and a reminder to be grateful for being able bodied to complete the challenge.
She explained her reason to walk was to give back to people who are a little less fortunate than herself.
“For me it was not just the trek in the desert itself, it was the journey,” she said.
Her background as a registered nurse motivated her to walk for not only the many people who face disability challenges, but also their carers and families who are deeply impacted as well.
Next year will be Youngcare’s 20th year of the Munga-Thirri Simpson Desert challenge.
To donate, visit youngcare.com.au/donate.
