THEIR crew may have lost a member after a breast cancer diagnosis, but five Mount Isa women are off on the adventure of a lifetime to complete the Oxfam’s Brisbane Trailwalker 100km endurance challenge.
The team, called ‘it’ll be fun’, is made up of Bec Greaves, Alice Moncrieff, Vicki Nicholson, Luisa McLeish, and Vanessa Denham.
After her second breast cancer diagnosis, Denham will no longer be completing the event, and Luisa stepped in to take her place.
"Even though I cant be there on the day, my amazing friends have decided to not leave me behind and organised to have made a life-like doll of me which will be going on the walk,” she said.
“I will be with them every step of the way from home.”
Nicholson said after falling ill seven years ago she promised herself she would live life to the fullest, and after an accident three years ago she was told there was a lot of things she couldn’t do.
“This to me sounded like a challenge. So I am up for trying everything and if I fail then I will try a new way to succeed,” she said.
McLeigh said she agreed to join when Denham was no longer able to participate.
“My goal is to have as much fun as possible, make some amazing memories and hopefully make it across the finish line,” she said.
Like her friends, Moncrieff said she was keen to be involved to make a difference.
“Essentially we are a group of women who are hopefully empowering other women to follow their dreams with the added bonus of promoting the work done by Oxfam,” she said. “Our goal is to finish, have fun, take heaps of photos and enjoy the atmosphere of the event.”
Last year Greaves, Moncrieff and Denham to do the UTA50, a 50km running race through the Blue Mountains, and she decided to give Oxfam a second go.
”I have done Oxfam before, in 2014. Unfortunately we didn't finish that time, we only made it to about 55kms until we had to pull out due to two team members being injured and unable to continue,” she said.
“Even though Mum, Vanessa, cannot be with us on the day she will be with us every step and will be sending lots of messages of encouragement to get us through the toughest parts of the course.
“We have raised over $2000 for Oxfam so far but would love some more if people are able to help out.”
The link to their team page is: https://trailwalker.oxfam.org.au/my/team/29391
Kelly Butterworth
Rockhampton-based journalist covering all things ag.
Rockhampton-based journalist covering all things ag.
