THANKS to four Highlands women, more than 125 people will regain the ability to see again.
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Barb Napier, her daughter Steph Minter, Caz Morley and Susie Watson will trek 55km from Coogee to Balmoral on March 6 as part of Sydney Coastrek to raise money for the Fred Hollows Foundation.
The Fred Hollows Foundation is inspired by the work of the late Professor Fred Hollows.
Through reducing the cost of cataract operations to as little as $25 in some developing countries, the foundation has helped to restore the sight of more than one million people worldwide.
It was this great work that inspired four Highlanders to raise money for The Fred Hollows Foundation by fundraising and participating in the Sydney Coastrek.
The team, called the Highland Trekkers, each aimed to raise $500 each, with a total of $2000.
So far they have raised more than $3000.
Steph has been baking cakes for friends’ birthdays and in lieu of payment, she has been asking for donations.
“We all thought it seemed like a huge amount and I wondered how many cakes I’d have to bake to raise the money,” Steph said
Barb said people had been more than willing to support the cause, and the fact that just $25 could restore sight had people immediately donating.
“Anybody we’ve asked [to donate] has thought it was a great idea. They think it’s a great cause and they can see where the money goes,” Barb said.
A friend of Barbs in the United States needed a cataract operation and it was going to cost $1000 for superior cataract lenses, which she had elected to get, but they were unsuitable for her.
Barb was telling her about the trek and what they were doing and what happened next took her by surprise.
“She immediately picked up her handbag, got out her chequebook and wrote us a cheque for $1000. It was so spontaneous and generous.”
In preparation for the challenge, the women have been walking around the Highlands and discovering scenic places in the region.
Steph and Barb live in Moss Vale and walk to Bowral and back via the bike track.
“It’s 13km to Coffee Culture from our house, then we walk an extra two kilometres to Bowral Pool to make it an even 30km round trip.”
A few weeks ago the two of them did the Seven Bridges walk in Sydney – a 27km walk.
“We pushed the three kids in prams around from 7am to 4pm. It was a beautiful walk,” Barb said.
Susie said it was great to be on the way to attaining a challenge she’d never dream of achieving.
“When we started I never dreamed that I would be able to walk 20km and now it’s just something I do on a weekend,” Susie said.
In January Caz walked around Cradle Mountain in Tasmania to prepare for the Coastrek.
“They provided us with a full 20 week training program so it’s really well organised,” Caz said.
Her husband, John Kettle, will be at the LUV stops to support the group by providing new socks, shoes, food and whatever they need.
The trek will take them from Coogee to The Gap, around the foreshore, through the rocks, across the Harbour Bridge, down around the foreshore then to Balmoral.
They all said they were feeling a lot healthier and fitter since they began training and were excited for this weekend’s trek.
Visit https://secure.coastrekfundraising.com.au/registrant/TeamFundraisingPage.aspx?EventID=45703&LangPref=en-CA&TeamID=82701#&panel1-4 to donate to the Highland Trekkers and raise money for the Fred Hollows Foundation.