be - up at the next cross-road, carrying jelly beans, bananas, water and – most importantly – a bit of a hug and a pat on the back. At night the Support Crew gave rub-downs, tended to blisters, cooked our dinner and washed our clothes for the next day. “You can’t survive a journey like the 200km walk, or a personal tragedy, without people to help you. And this is what the VPPCP is to all the families of the children they care for – an incredible, dedicated, selfless support crew. “It’s so hard to not be able to reach out and touch Mitchell, to stroke his cheek or smell his hair, but we have such wonderful memories of our amazing little boy that might not have been possible without the help of the VPPCP in keeping him close to us.” “In 2009, our first walk saw us raise $17,500 with eight walkers. Our second in 2010 raised $25,000 with 12 walkers. Our third in 2012 raised over $62,000 with 17 walkers. “The concept of our walk is different to other fundraising walks. It’s not so much about the number of walkers we have, but the many ways those individuals go about raising as much money as they can. “It’s a big ask – you have to be a pretty special person to put your hand up to walk 200km through rain, hail and sunshine across Victoria. Each walker is asked to raise a minimum of $1000 (many raise substantially more) and everyone involved pays their own way – meals, accommodation and travel expenses - separate to the funds they raise. Some of our walkers are parents, who have to organise childcare around this commitment. Some work full time and cut into their annual leave to take part. Some are retirees and could be relaxing at home or doing anything other than taking on this huge challenge. I’m humbled by the lot of them. “Having completed three walks now there’s no stopping us! We’ve decided to do the 200km walk every two years, with our next one scheduled for 2013. We’ll walk from Mansfield to Tallarook (around 150kms), then complete the final 50kms in the Melbourne area. The last couple of days of each 200km walk always includes walking into the RCH,
30
and then we finish the walk in Werribee. Werribee is my home, and we receive wonderful support from the Rotary Club of Werribee - who are heavily involved in organising the walk and making it happen - and also the local community. “We choose a different rural route each walk, as the VPPCP look after families all over Victoria and we want them to know they’re important to us and we’re thinking about them no matter where they are.
“I know our walk definitely, tangibly makes a difference to families in the worst times of their lives. Knowing that we’re able to account for each dollar we raise, and that the VPPCP can apply it to specific pieces of equipment to send out to families in need is incredibly important to me.
“I needed to know that families were being helped on the ground - that they were getting what they needed, when they needed it. It was what I had needed for Mitchell, but had proved so hard to get. I like to think in terms of ‘What does this child need by five o’clock tonight?’. That’s how immediate the needs of children in palliative care are, and they shouldn’t have to wait. That’s what this money can do for them. To see this happening, to see photos of the equipment that is going out to families and to hear the feedback from VPPCP staff about the difference they’re making by being able to say ‘Yes, we can get that for you’, makes me feel so proud to be Mitchell’s Mum. “To be given the opportunity to honour my wonderful, courageous boy’s life in such a way is all this mamma bear could have wished for.”