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David Smith

2025 March On Challenge

Please help me reach my goal

Raised

$2,484

My Goal

$1,000

Select amount to donate

$37
$74
$227
$500
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Big finish target met

Today's see's my target's achieved and maybe more to come if my body, knee in particular can be made good for another push before the March is done. I see my surgeon on Monay 24th March to see the result of my MRI and what if anything can be done to fix my knee. I do hope something positive is the result. I am pleased, proud of not only my personal achievement but the ongoing magnificent efforts and achievements of the thousands of others dedicated to the cause being driven by Soldier On and their many volunteers supporting us along our own journeys to which we are committed. The number of our Veteran's some known to me and many more unknown who find themselves in very dark places and unfortunately could not overcome their personal demons and are no longer of this World is a National Shame. It is through organisations such as Soldier On and numerous other ADF organisations that we must pull our Veteran's who continue in one way or another to struggle to find their rightful place in the very Country they Served to defend and protect we must seek them out, throw out a firm empathetic hand and support them in understanding that their lives matter, their Service is respected and a grateful Country truly cares. My very own support team whom without I don't achieve a cracker starting with my wife, my friend, my best mate and my first aider on this journey, family, mates and most importantly to those of you who posted messages of support and to those who so very generously donated your hard earned to the cause thank you, thank you. I will remember your generosity and empathy far into the future and when we don't have Australian Veteran's homeless, living on the streets and turning to suicide "I WILL REMEMBER YOU". If before the end of March and you haven't yet been able to donate l again urge you to consider a donation of any amount to the cause "March On". simply go to my page and follow the prompts. Cheers. Davo Jamie Smith. Navy Veteran.🇦🇺⚓️👣👣

Day 13 knee treatment

Thursday arrived and I was bloody sore. Treatment and advice as to management of R/knee by Physiotherapist. Doctor for advice as to medical management. Advice: no walking distances for a few days. After the weekend continue with pool therapy two days, short walks morning and night. 96kms almost there. keep up those donations coming in. Thank you.🙏🇦🇺👣

Winged warrior down.

The knees swollen and pulsating today, appointment with rehabilitation. Nice little knee massage, elastic pullover knee bandage applied. No walkies today and not to overdo the walking. Advised to cut distances walked down. Will be easily achieved as I've clocked over 70kms, with 18 days to go. Appointment with surgeon in April. Keep up the push guys the finish line in sight.

Breakfast at clydes

Day 9 off to a slow start with a coffee and breakfast at one of our fav's, Clydes on Murdoch Road Wangaratta. Great food and coffee. The staff were welcoming and competent.

Around the block.

Today's was a leisurely walk before the streets came alive on even pavement to protect the stiff and painful knees and it was a pleasure looking at houses in Westend Wangaratta that I haven't seen since my childhood. Lesson for the day, wear my bloody hearing aids as I was nearly skittled by an electric scooter carrying two young boys. It was entirely my own fault and as my fright response is combative I just hope I didn't scare the two boys, who by the way called a warning and were both wearing helmets. A few deep breaths and I was away again. A beautiful coffee at Madam's West End was reward for completing another good walk for the cause. Cheers.🇦🇺👣👣

A great day

Day 7 started with a gentle 1km walk to our coffee shop gem in Wang West, Madam's with two Veteran mates(shown in photo). The coffee was magnificent as usual and the staff friendly and on the ball. Our discussion was generally about our different experiences during Service in the 1960's. We compared our March progress, our injuries, what was hurting, how to combat different medical issues. However for most of the yarn it was positive and jovial. Me being me I love my coffee and ordered a second cup, caramel Latte of course. Chris and Ross took off and I went to pay for my second coffee only to be advised that a man and his wife had paid for my coffee. To that generous couple you made my day and confirmed my belief that there are mainly beautiful, caring and empathetic people in our community. Today say hi to a stranger and smile. Well I'm off on another shortish walk for this great cause, "Prevention of Veteran Suicide". All donations go to this cause so please go to my page and donate. Cheers.🇦🇺👣

Day 4 - in beautiful wang.

Day 4 saw me rise very stiff and sore. My knees were tight, screaming and I found it difficult to walk to the bathroom. A little wander, break, coffee say hi to all I hit the walking project again. After struggling around I completed a reasonable 7.8kms giving me a total of 29kms. Only 67kms to go. Please, continue these vital donations.🇦🇺🇦🇺👣👣

Onto the ovens river. day 2.

Bush walk. Beautiful but tough on my knees and back. The scenery was fantastic and the the people and dogs I met made a tough morning worthwhile. Got a bit over 4kms.⚓️🇦🇺

I'm underway day one.

Today's effort of 15.014 steps, 11.55kms was a good start completed in two separate periods. The knees and back surprisingly held up ok. We go again tomorrow, same result? Wait and see. Thank you to ALL those who have donated and sent me messages of encouragement. Keep those donations and or messages coming. Thank you.🇦🇺👣

"step off"

Tomorrow I and many thousands of people who are passionate about our cause which is the prevention of Veteran suicide. Access my page at March On for March to track my progress over the next 31 days and donate any amount if you have the means or simply support me with a comment or have a crack at this older sailor Veteran. Our Veterans will be happy to read that you care for them and, that their life does matter. Cheers. Davo Jamie Smith.⚓️🇦🇺⚓️🇦🇺

Prevention of veteran suicide.

With only two days to go until step off for my goal of completing my 96ks for this magic cause and I will give it my very best effort as will all those people committed to the cause. As the 1st of March fast approaches I'm pleased with the level of support and encouragement I'm receiving. The amount of donations already received via my page is pleasing and to all those that have donated thank you so much. Go to my page to see already how important your donation is and how many Veterans will be given support to ensure they know that "their lives matter" and that we'll stand by to support them whenever they require a helping hand and the respect they deserve. Thank you everyone of you. Cheers. Davo Jamie Smith.🇦🇺⚓️

So far, I have helped provide:

207

peer support
sessions

124

employment
support

10

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:

100km

I’ve conquered Kokoda!

My goal to Kokoda:

96km

My Tribute Post

David Smith

Thank you Dear Marg for my very first donation to support me in my effort to cover 96 kilometres during March.🇦🇺❤️

My Achievements

Thank you to my sponsors

Legend Rank

Champion Rank

Defender Rank

Ally Rank

$312.90

Albury Steel Fabricators

Great cause , well done Davo 👍

$312.90

Matched Donation

$236.76

Prodigal Son

Bad knee and all, good effort old boy 👊🏻

$106.12

Joan

All the best good luck.

$101.42

Facebook Donation

$100

Margaret Hurd

I’m right with you.

$79.30

Norma Sumner

Keep going Dave. You can do it Terry says “hang in there mate”

$79.30

Matched Donation

$79.30

Mal Patrick

Go for it Davo

$79.30

Anonymous

You’re an inspiration

$79.30

Neil Richards

Well Done

$79.30

Matched Donation

$54.12

Steph And Sam

What a wonderful cause! We are so proud. Love Stephi, Sam and Bonnie x

$54.12

Justin Schultz

It is an amazing effort Dave

$54.12

John Giggins

$54.12

John And Marl Fulton

Great work for a greater cause🥰

$54.12

Anonymous

You can do it….

$54.12

Sally Dowling

Awesome Dave👏🏼such a wonderful cause and an amazing achievement. Congratulations!

$54.12

Matched Donation

$50

Facebook Donation

$43.60

Michael Thompson

It's not easy being Green

$43.60

Simon Briffa

$40.37

Steve Hassett

Well done mate, 👍

$40.37

Edward R Giuliani

$30

Lorraine Holmes

Good job dave

$27.81

Greg And Marg Aikman

Keep up the good hard work Jamie(Dave) Greg and Marg

$22.58

Rhonda Schwind

$22.58

Shirley Wohlers

$22.58

Anonymous

Good on you Dave, a great effort

$22.58

Melissa Campbell

Hope the body holds up! Go Davo x

$20

Hayley & Jon O’brien

$20

Matched Donation

$20

Facebook Donation

$11.65

Helen Mason

Keep up the good work Dave. Hope your knee hold out

$11.65

Matched Donation

$10

Mike Happy

$312.90

Albury Steel Fabricators

Great cause , well done Davo 👍

$312.90

Matched Donation

$236.76

Prodigal Son

Bad knee and all, good effort old boy 👊🏻

$106.12

Joan

All the best good luck.

$101.42

Facebook Donation

$100

Margaret Hurd

I’m right with you.

$79.30

Norma Sumner

Keep going Dave. You can do it Terry says “hang in there mate”

$79.30

Matched Donation

$79.30

Mal Patrick

Go for it Davo

$79.30

Anonymous

You’re an inspiration

$79.30

Neil Richards

Well Done

$79.30

Matched Donation

$54.12

Steph And Sam

What a wonderful cause! We are so proud. Love Stephi, Sam and Bonnie x

$54.12

Justin Schultz

It is an amazing effort Dave

$54.12

John Giggins

$54.12

John And Marl Fulton

Great work for a greater cause🥰

$54.12

Anonymous

You can do it….

$54.12

Sally Dowling

Awesome Dave👏🏼such a wonderful cause and an amazing achievement. Congratulations!

$54.12

Matched Donation

$50

Facebook Donation

$43.60

Michael Thompson

It's not easy being Green

$43.60

Simon Briffa

$40.37

Steve Hassett

Well done mate, 👍

$40.37

Edward R Giuliani

$30

Lorraine Holmes

Good job dave

$27.81

Greg And Marg Aikman

Keep up the good hard work Jamie(Dave) Greg and Marg

$22.58

Rhonda Schwind

$22.58

Shirley Wohlers

$22.58

Anonymous

Good on you Dave, a great effort

$22.58

Melissa Campbell

Hope the body holds up! Go Davo x

$20

Hayley & Jon O’brien

$20

Matched Donation

$20

Facebook Donation

$11.65

Helen Mason

Keep up the good work Dave. Hope your knee hold out

$11.65

Matched Donation

$10

Mike Happy

Thank you to my Sponsors

$106.12

Joan

All the best good luck.

$101.42

Facebook Donation

$100

Margaret Hurd

I’m right with you.

$79.30

Norma Sumner

Keep going Dave. You can do it Terry says “hang in there mate”

$79.30

Matched Donation

$79.30

Mal Patrick

Go for it Davo

$79.30

Anonymous

You’re an inspiration

$79.30

Neil Richards

Well Done

$79.30

Matched Donation

$54.12

Steph And Sam

What a wonderful cause! We are so proud. Love Stephi, Sam and Bonnie x

$54.12

Justin Schultz

It is an amazing effort Dave

$54.12

John Giggins

$54.12

John And Marl Fulton

Great work for a greater cause🥰

$54.12

Anonymous

You can do it….

$54.12

Sally Dowling

Awesome Dave👏🏼such a wonderful cause and an amazing achievement. Congratulations!

$54.12

Matched Donation

$50

Facebook Donation

$43.60

Michael Thompson

It's not easy being Green

$43.60

Simon Briffa

$40.37

Steve Hassett

Well done mate, 👍

$40.37

Edward R Giuliani

$30

Lorraine Holmes

Good job dave

$27.81

Greg And Marg Aikman

Keep up the good hard work Jamie(Dave) Greg and Marg

$22.58

Rhonda Schwind

$22.58

Shirley Wohlers

$22.58

Anonymous

Good on you Dave, a great effort

$22.58

Melissa Campbell

Hope the body holds up! Go Davo x

$20

Hayley & Jon O’brien

$20

Matched Donation

$20

Facebook Donation

$11.65

Helen Mason

Keep up the good work Dave. Hope your knee hold out

$11.65

Matched Donation

$10

Mike Happy

My Gallery