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A
sore but relieved RAAF Base Townsville team at Innisfail
– the end of the journey. The team raised more than
$30,000 for local charities..
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RAAF
Base Townsville runners arrive in the far north Queensland
town of Cardwell at the end of a long, hard day one spent
pounding the pavement.
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A FIGHTING
fit group from RAAF Base Townsville has battled monsoonal downpours,
30-degree heat, monster hills, snakes and traffic to run 200km from
Bluewater to Innisfail in far north Queensland – all in the
name of charity.
The
Mackay to Cairns Challenge was created to raise money for charity
in the wake of the deaths of a number of north Queenslanders in
the Bali bombings.
On
their gruelling journey, teams from the ADF, emergency services
and local sports clubs collected money for charities including
the burns unit at Townsville Hospital, a humidicrib at Cairns
Hospital and Mackay’s Careflight Helicopter.
With
the base’s support vehicles following them every step of
the way, the large group of RAAF Townsville runners took it in
turns to run 2.5km legs amid taxing weather conditions.
Despite
the energy-sapping 90 per cent humidity and the fact that running
ability varied greatly throughout the group, every runner was
determined to set the best times they were capable of.
Age,
rank and mustering distinctions all faded into insignificance,
as team members became 100 per cent focused on the task at hand.
Camaraderie
quickly developed amongst the group, with members encouraging
one another as they continued to progress way ahead of schedule.
Motorists
honked their horns in support, with many pulling over to join
those by the roadside making donations.
It
wasn’t just money handed over either, with some donating
meals, accommodation and their spare time.
The
group made it to the small town of Cardwell at the end of the
day one and reached its final destination at Innisfail just after
midday on the second day.
And
for the record, the RAAF Base Townsville crew raised more than
$30,000.
