Support my 210km challenge to prevent veteran suicide and save lives

Please help me reach my goal

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$1,250

My Goal

$2,500

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Marathon Number 5

To cut a long story short. Saturday morning I got out at 5 am, had breakfast, tapped my feet and got ready to head to Upper Horton to start my last marathon in the rain. We got through the first three creek crossings but Porcupine Creek was flowing to fast and to deep and rising rapidly. So, back home and hope the creeks settle for Sunday. It didn't rain much Saturday night so headed off at 6.30 am but got to the third creek crossing to find a vehicle stuck in the creek with a large tree across the causeway. BUGGER !! So back home for the Landcruiser and recovery gear and chainsaw. Two hours later, no 4WD in creek and tree removed. I started walking at 9.13 am which meant a late finish. The walk was fairly uneventful, the main challenge was keeping my feet dry as a few causeways still had a bit of water in them. I would suggest the Horton River possibly broke its 2022 record level. It had dropped about 3 metres to what it was the previous day. I finally made it back to where I started at the Barraba Memorial Clock at 6.26 pm. Totally buggered but in record time.

Marathon Number 4

I started walking around 7.30 am due to the 45 minutes trip to get to the starting point. I set up Google Location Sharing, but ended up spending a lot of the day with no service so it probably didn't work to good anyway. It should have an easier day as it wasn't such a hilly route as the other days. However, I was wrong about it being easier as the last 10 km were quite a struggle. It was the first day with out pigs, so that was good. About the only scary thing was walking amongst a dozen large Hereford Bulls on Back Creek road. They just stared at me while I walked past. It didn't turn into "Running with the Bulls" so that was good. I didn't have a swim at the "Glacial Area", just a splash of water on the face, but boy, did I want to jump in ! I finally finished doing just over 42 km in under 10 hours which was my goal for the day and not spewing at the finish, which I also managed.

Marathon number 3

Saturday the 15th saw me start at 6.52 am for another long day walking 42 km to help raise funds to prevent veteran suicide. Saturdays walk started the grand tour of the Horton Valley, which took me back down Mt Lindsay road and onto Trevallyn Road over Bereen Mountain and eventually a couple of km past Trevallyn homestead on Back Creek road. The walk was fairly uneventful and I only saw one pig but heaps of fat cattle as the Horton Valley is looking absolutely fantastic at the moment. As what is becoming normal, the first 30 km was relatively easy but the last 12 km was a hard slog with a stained calf muscle and a irritating left knee. But I guess the guys who fought on the Kokoda Track had a lot more worries then that ! This Saturday I hope to go from where I left off up to Killarney Gap road and back down Horton road to the Horton village which should be around 42 km again !

Marathon number 2

I started at 7.18 am at the western quarry on Mt Lindsay road and headed for Mt Kaputar summit in the wind, but with no rain. I made it to Kaputar where it really did feel like a cyclone was nearby. I then made my way back down and headed for Horton falls road. The last 10 km were very tiring and I had another close encounter with pigs. I also saw a small herd of feral deer along with all the native wildlife. I ended up walking 44 km for the day but it felt like 100 km. I definitely reached the limit of my endurance. The stat's of my walk is in the photos. Next week I'm walking from Horton Falls / Mt Lindsay Rd intersection to Trevallyn / Back Creek Rd intersection. It should be around the 42 km mark but I will further if its not that far.

Day 1 Barraba to beyond Cotswold Rd.

Day 1 started at Barraba memorial clock at 7.10 am. It was nice and cool to start but soon warmed up to around 34 degrees. The hot weather certainly wasn't ideal for walking a marathon. A lot of the black bitumen was starting to melt and you could hear the cars tyres miles away pushing though the soft ooze. God knows how hot the road surface was. I had a 30 minute break with the cows at Percy James Bridge. Here I washed my feet, ( 50 : 50 cow piss and water ) and taped up my feet for blisters but it was already to late. I slowly made it up Black Cow Hill along the Highland Plain and across Chain of Ponds, where a had a close encounter with Momma Pig and piglets. They bolted off in the right direction, through the fence. From there on I the going got tough. It was still bloody hot, my feet and 2 toes were hurting and I could feel the blisters getting bigger. I kept going although I had had enough. I finally made it up the steep pitch just before Cotswold rd, made a couple of phone calls and arranged for my wife to start heading out to pick me up. I went a few km further just past the quarry where I stopped and sat on a pile of dirt. That was it, I done it and I've got the blisters to prove it !

Support my challenge to prevent veteran suicide and save lives

Right now in Australia, at 42%, suicide is the leading cause of death for ex-serving males aged under 30 years old.

So, this March, I am walking to support Soldier On's mental health services and programs to help prevent veteran suicide and save lives.

It would mean so much to me if you donated to support my challenge so that we can show veterans and their families that they are not alone... we stand strong with them.

Together, let's help our heroes march on.

Thanks so much for your support.

So far, I have helped provide:

104

peer support
sessions

62

employment
support

5

psychology
sessions

...to support the mental health of our brave veterans to help them march on.

My Kokoda Track Journey

So far, I have marched:

213km

I’ve conquered Kokoda and back!

My goal to Kokoda and back:

210km

My Legacy

My Impact over 2 years

My Achievements

Thank you to my sponsors

Legend Rank

Champion Rank

Defender Rank

Ally Rank

$300

Manilla Masonic Centre

Well done Danny from all the guys at St Andrews Lodge and Barraba Lodge of the Freemasons.

$150

D.l. And M.l. Ballard Partnership

$106.12

Kerry

$106.12

Ian Bignall

Go for it Danny, thank you for supporting Veterans

$106.12

Robyn Smith

Fine effort, Danny. Challenge nearly complete .. My father John Dickson and grandparents from Barraba. Dad Rat of Tobruk WWII

$54.12

Tracey & Peter Weekes

Great job Danny xxoo

$54.12

Brian Coote

$54.12

Anonymous

Cheering you on!

$54.12

Nicky & Paul Abraham

Go Danny!!

$52.92

Leo And Una Ballard

Go my son !!!

$50

Darce And Jane

Good on you Danny. Huge effort for a worthy cause.

$43.60

Kerrie

Great job, Dan xx

$40.37

Shannon Coote

Excellent cause & a much needed service.

$33.15

Kate Ballard

$22.58

Denise Crittenden (dickson)

My dad WWII came from Barraba. A RAT of Tobruk. 🙌 them all. Well done walking

$22.58