Support my 192km challenge to prevent veteran suicide and save lives

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Done & done

Still suffering the pain but must push through 💪6klm's & I'm done, must keep walking 🚶‍♀️step by step, limp by limp, am I there yet? 🤨🤔 No you must keep going 🙄 you can rest tomorrow 😏 finally the Garmin clicks over 6klm's 🙌🙌 but can I make it to the car 🚗 yes I can😁 I've made it 192klm throughout the Month of March 🫶 Challenge completed 🫡

Run army

Run Army 5klm walk🚶‍♀️first year for me 🤗 very proud to support the event & so very determined to do it despite the shin splint & pain 🙄, I can do this, I'm not alone😊 got through to the end 💪💪you go girl 🙌🙌 iced my shin 🧊 rehydrated 🧋😁 will be back next year 🫶 though my challenge is not complete 😁😁

Pushing through the pain

Thought it's suppose to get essier but looks like I've developed a shin splint in one leg 🙄 you need better shoes I heard everyone say 👂🤨 big mistake, huge 🤔 went back to my trusty Sketches today, chugged out 6klm pain & all but at least I got there 😁💪 come on girl you can rest on April 1st 😊

Back to menari 🫶

Well, I managed to smash out another 12klm🤗 this evening in the rain 🌧🌧 great weather for ducks 🦆but thank you Mr Hooker😉😆 for keeping me as dry as can be ☔️, I've made it back to Menari 🙌🙌 & though I'm really hurting 🙄😵‍💫, I must keep punching through 👊👊 to make it all the way back down the virtual track🚶‍♀️🚶‍♀️only a few days left & I'm determined 💪not to be stretchered out from Owers' Corner 😆😆

Another 8 bites the dust

Can't believe I've had such a good run with the weather up until the last few days (considering the month started with a cyclone 🌀threat)😌🙄 it really tested me this evening 🌧🌧 raining from the get go 😳 but still chugged out 8klm, it wasn't the rain that stopped me going further as I couldn't get any wetter 🤪 it was the dark 🌚🙄 I need to get there earlier & push myself further 😤💪 I will make it to Menari tomorrow 🙌🙌 watch this space 🫶😆

26th march 2025

Got going later than I wanted to today 🙄 must do some work 😵‍💫 but still got 6klm done & dusted was aiming for 9 or 11 🚶‍♀️still anything is better than zero💪, rain was a real issue today as well ☹️ still have to say it's more than I ever thought I should do, would do, could do 😁, so I'll keep it going🙌🙌 till I can't do anymore 🫶

25th march 2025

Pushed through another 10 km today😨, making it back to Templeton's Crossing 🙌🙌 only another 27 km to Menari🙄, through the dark & dodging the threat of rain 🌧, remembering to just take one step at a time 🚶‍♀️it's still a long way to go but I'm determined to make it back💪🫶

24th march 2025

Back on home ground this arvo 🤗 & was able to add 8klm to the return total 🙌 🙌 pace was a little slower, though trying to get round before rain & the dark, stayed dry but finished in the dark 😏 inch by inch, step by step 🚶‍♀️I'm getting there 💪🫶

23rd march 2025

Got in early today to ensure I got some klm's done🚶‍♀️ as some is better than none 😁 was hoping to get back out in the afternoon but just got too late 😒🙄 bit disappointed only 3klm for the day 🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️ only problem is it leaves me more to squeeze in this coming week to reach my goal of 192klm 😨😰 push, push, push 💪👊

Change of scenery

Thought I'd try something different today, change of scenery 🤩🤩 making sure I got some klm in for the day 🤗 2.8klm circuit she said, easy I said 😏 turns out 4klm circuit 😨😰, so I thought bugger it lets turn around & go back the other way 🤦‍♀️got dark, nearly got lost🤔, thought I was gonna end up in the lake 😆😆 but put torch on & made it back to the car unscathed 👏👏 8klm done, I say good job 💪💪🙌🙌

Return journey begins

OMG! I don't know what I was thinking 🤦‍♀️ but felt pumped yesterday once I reached virtual Kokoda & have now upped the ante 💪 to trek back down 🤪 I'm gonna give it my all 🤗 & punched out 6klm to get me started👊🙌, today was harder than I thought it was going to be😨😰, another year older, different shoes, early afternoon 🤷‍♀️ but most importantly I did it 🫶

Woo! hoo!

Chugged out 5klm today making it to my virtual Kokoda💪💪doing cartwheels 🤸‍♀️🤸‍♀️ Yay! me 🙌 so proud to make the effort particularly today, in the dark, in the rain 🌚🌧 wet shoes, wet socks 😳 soaking hair, soaking shirt, no umbrella, no coat 🌂🥼(that's an eighties thing) 😆😆 but knowing those who did the real Kokoda had it sooo much worse 🫡🙏👊💪made me want to keep going 😁👏👏🫶 & it's my birthday so definitely wanted to get there before I got too old 🤣🤣🤣

Almost there

Not quite the 12 klm's done yesterday 👊🙄 😨 but still chugged out 6klm 🙌 as yesterday was a real push 💪💪& had to realise I needed to make it to another birthday 🎂😆😆 couldn't die before I celebrated another year 🤣🤣 only 5klm to reach virtual Kokoda🫡

Smashed it today part 2

Well, way to go me 🙌🤗🙌 another 6klm done & dusted 👏👏👏 can't believe I've conquered 12klms today 🤯 done in 2 parts but hey gotta give it to me 👊 just about to click over another year 😀 🙄 when does it start to feel better 😨😰🤣🤣 considering this is only the virtual Kokoda Track always thinking of those that did the real Kokoda Track 💪🫶

Smashed it today part 1

Damn 🤦‍♀️ thought my watch said 6klm done🙄, so stopped & then forgot to turn it off 😳 double 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️, changed my day up a little due to circumstances 🤪 but going to punch out another couple of k's 🚶‍♀️🚶‍♀️after work, it's put my pace out but doesn't matter 🤗 just proud to get the klm's done 🙌 but not yet dusted for the day 👊👊💪💪

Eora creek done & dusted

Wow! wow! wow! 😱 smashed out 7klms this afternoon🙌🙌, officially reaching Eora Creek 😊 & more, thought it was 7klms to reach the creek crossing 🤔 away found out it was only 6klm 🤦‍♀️😨doesn't matter 🤷‍♀️ I made it through 👊👊🌛& found out the best thing about walking in the dark🤔 is I could sing out loud like no one was listening 🤪🎧🎶 because no one was listening 🤣🤣🤣 & not bad average pace for the distance, even if I do say so myself 😏🫶💪

Sunday funday

Well Sunday is suppose to be my funday 🙃 but smashed another 6klm 🙌👊🙌 making my total 66klm on my trek thus far 👏👏 gotta give it to myself 🫶 you go girl 💪I'm certainly no spring chicken but remembering each day why I'm Soldiering On this March 🫡 ❤️

14th & 15th marching on

14th - Friday yayday 😁 well for those that work 5 days but unfortunately have to work tomoz 🙄 but still happy to get another 5klm under my belt this afternoon 🙌💪still a ways to go 😨 but by jove I'm getting there 😆😆 15th - It wasn't easy today with work, inspections, contracts & sign ups 🏠✍️📝 but determined ☺️🤗💪& though phone died toward the end got 5klms done 🙌🙌 then back to office 🙄 I say well done me 🙋‍♀️😆

Over halfway - can't believe it

Must say bit disappointed today with only 3klm 😔 as work came first📝, so didn't get away earlier enough to get more klms🚶‍♀️ in before the dark of night came in 🌓 but did dodge the rain 🌧 have to say though, it would've been easier to just not do any 🤨, so proud of me 🙌🤗🙌 I made the effort to do what I could 💪👊🫶

Almost halfway 🥰

OMG! Literally smashed 👊 another 6klm this arvo, best time/pace per klm 🙌🙌 who ever would have thought 🤔 not I said the spider to the fly 🕷🪰😆😆 have to give to myself almost half way to virtual Kokoda 🫶🤗

Reached menari

Woo! Hoo! To me today 🙌🙌 definitely worked hard 😰to walk the 6klm today to reach the first virtual village at Menari 🏘 pushing through to beat the rain 🌂🌧 & the dark🌙 but got there 💪

First week done & dusted

Once again ex TC Alfred 🌀was threatening 🌧 but again gave ma a window to walk another 5klms this afternoon 🙏, today was definitely my hardest thus far 😨😰 much slower pace for Sunday 🚶‍♀️🙄 but most importantly I still did it 💪that's 30klm this week, 6klm to Menari 😁

Cylcone what cyclone 🙏

Have to say, way to go me 🙌🙌 another 5klms done & dusted 😰😁 big shout out to ex TC Alfred 🌀 for allowing me to NOT have walk in the rain 🌧, thank you 🙏🤣🤣

20klms down & doing ok

Holy bonkers 🤯 can't believe I did 6klm this afternoon 😓 thanks twenty20 Realty for the early mark today 😉🤣🤣 or not 🤔 wanted to get some k's in before any rain came 🌧🌀🌬 must say kept up a pretty good average pace, that's 20klm up the virtual track on my way, 15kms until I reach Menari 😆😆

Acknowledging our heroes

Another 4klm working my way up the virtual Kokoda Track. I'm not kidding myself, I know it's still a long way to go, but with the support of family & friends, I will get there ❤️ what doesn't kill me will make me fitter 🤣🤣

Nothing compares

For the first time in forever I walked the local Ululah track & though it is definitely not the Kokoda Track, I'm on my way to acknowledge those that did & support Soldier On during March On this month.

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:

38

peer support
sessions

22

employment
support

2

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:

351km

I’ve conquered Kokoda and back!

My goal to Kokoda and back:

192km

My Tribute Post

Mandy

Marching On for my son who is a current serving member of our ADF & my Great Uncles who served in PNG during WWII. I salute you & I thank you for your service, then, now & into the future & when your service is finished, I will still salute you & thank you for your courage, sacrifices & dedication never forget your life matters, we will be there for you as you have been there for us

My Achievements

Thank you to my sponsors

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$106.12

Twenty20 Realty

Giving Mandy our support through Soldier On.

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Christine Mclachlan

You are an Inspiration.

$79.30

Tiffany Orr

You’re doing amazing! You’ve got this!

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Chris Welsh

Keep walking Mandy

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Anonymous

Getting behind Soldier On

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Barbara Coghlan

Keep going Mandy, we are behind you.

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Matched Donation

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Zeena Smith

Awesome achievement Mandy 👍

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