Thursday, August 24, 2023

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

Mates On A Mission

Cancer Survivor Walks From Townsville to Airlie Beach

Three ex-Australian Defence Force personnel with more than 40 years of military service combined have made the walk from Townsville to Airlie Beach in aid of a charity supporting veterans.

Orchestrated and walked by Pete Schefford, who was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic bowel cancer three years ago, and two others, the long walk was aimed at recognising and continuing to embody military values, all while faced with insurmountable odds.

Over September 19 to 24, the trio of Schefford, Beau King, and Jason Handsaker made the more than 270-kilometre journey to prove that something as small as just walking can make a major difference.

The Long Walk To “Make A Difference”

Pete Shefford has already beaten the odds.

Diagnosed with a form of terminal bowel cancer just after his 50th birthday, the Townsville man and Defence Force veteran was issued with a life expectancy of roughly two years.

That was almost three years ago, and he wants to keep beating those odds – which is in part why he and three other men from Queensland’s far north took on the walk from Townsville to Airlie Beach in blistering heat last week.

In the face of his prognosis, Pete saw an opportunity to establish a legacy for future veterans; reinforcing his belief that “diagnosed medical conditions need not define nor restrict us.”

In collaboration with charitable organisation Eyes Front Ltd, he established the ‘Pete Shefford Enduring Spirit Award’, aimed at recognising the esteemed military values within a critically or terminally ill veteran and provide an opportunity for them to tick something off their bucket list.

“A ‘Make-a-Wish’ opportunity for community-minded ex-defence personnel if you like,” Pete said.

“I’ve had a good life; I’ve done a lot of good things. I know that not everyone had the opportunities I had and they get too old or too sick to do things they might wanted to have done. The idea is to give back to people who are giving already while raising money for hands-on charities.”

Joined by ADF veterans Beau King and Jason Handsaker, the three ordinary blokes – fathers, husbands, footballers, mates, and veterans – set out to prove that “one doesn’t need to be a celebrity or a socialite to make a difference.”

They walked the shoulder of the road for roughly 270 kilometres, through Ayr, Gumlu, Bowen, Proserpine, and finally Airlie Beach, raising roughly $7,000 (at the time of writing) along the way.

“What we realised along the walk was that everyone was willing to give us a hand. Places like Travellers Motel, The Grandview, Original North Australian and Metropole Hotel looked after us,” Pete said.

“Free food, free accommodation. We had lots of chats with locals, too, lots of interest in what we were doing, and quite a few people who donated as much as they could. People just dropping cash into my hand and things like that.”

They walked for as long as 13 hours a day during some of the stretch and looked forward to a dip in the Airlie Beach Lagoon come the end.

“The message we want to get out there is: we want people to focus on what they can achieve – who they can help. None of the buts, just what you want and to focus on that. And it’s a reminder that you can do things if you’ve got support,” Pete said.

“That’s been my message. It’s not about the physical side of things. It’s about having a go, it’s about three ordinary blokes who are saying, we can make a difference, and we can do it together.”

You can continue to donate to the Enduring Spirit Charity via the link: https://enduring-spirit.square.site/enduring-spirit-award

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