Login
Login

Paul Robson

2025 March On Challenge

Please help me reach my goal

Raised

$1,446

My Goal

$250

Select amount to donate

$37
$74
$227
$500
$
Donate

Last blog for the challenge

I have the utmost respect for everyone of you veterans who swore your oath holding the Australian flag. I was lucky enough to be present for my sons oath. with my foot bleeding and left achilles having multiple surgeries over recent years I didn't know how I would go on this challenge but 31 days later here we are. Left achilles looks as swollen as an elephants trunk and right fused big toe and toe next to it bleeding again but I'm still standing and although i have more surgery to face now, I will walk into that surgeons office with a smile. I'm so happy to have met so many of you online and I hope some will send me a friend request on Facebook so we can keep in touch and get the encouragement going for next year. You are all champions of a terribly difficult cause. To all you veterans who are struggling ask for help. I'm a 25 year sober alcoholic and if I can help don't hesitate to ring me 0439 327 804 Paul

31st march - last day.

I was going to give Saint a rest today but after reading some of the beautiful messages I received ❤️ when I was just a dopey old 30 year Detective I heard Saint crying. I found him at the front door lick8ng his lead and crying about 1.30 p.m. I think because the rain clouds were rolling in he thought I wasn't taking him and it was getting darker. So away we went for another decent walk. we only travelled a few hundred meters over 7 k's but we got our photo together about halfway around and I let him off the lead to run home the last two streets. That beautiful dog has walked most of the 153 kilometres all bar a couple of the extreme heat days. I missed 3 days with the chest and head cold but really only thought I'd make it the 96 k's anyway so to go just short of 60 k's past that I am proud of Saint and my beautiful Samantha. in my gallery I am posting individual photos of each of us. Thank you everyone and also a special thanks to the admin Chad and Andy for their constant encouragement. Although I haven't mentioned her much I also want to thank my beautiful wonderful 28 year old daughter who rang me nearly every night checking on us and constantly telling me how proud she is of me. I love you Annie.

march 30

I had to do a short walk yesterday because St Kilda were playing at marvel stadium against Richmond so my buddy Saint, Samantha and I knocked off 4 then caught train to Melbourne and watched my beloved saints win by nearly 15 goals. Today i knew I needed a big walk if I was going to achieve the 144 klm I wanted to cover one and a half kokoda distances. Samantha, Saint and I headed out and after 7+ k's we left Samantha to head home and Saint & i just pushed on and knocked over just short of another 3.7k's before heading in. if i could still have felt my legs I would have carried Saint the last 200 meters. He might be a 4 year old pure bred kelpie but he had just walked 10.7 k's today and 145 for the month. PTSD precludes me from being proud of myself but I really am proud to have got through the month and a lot more than the distance. One more days walking then I'll post all my thanks.

Saint and i headed out again.

still got the head and chest 🥶 cold butk9determined to get to 120 klm. we left at 12.58 p.m. and again I wore a sweat vest over my shirt. we did our normal block but at the end we headed back up to Torquay road and u-turn and back to burdoo then peter st then kana st ghen home. 5.5 k's on the button and got home at 12.56 p.m. dog is buggered. sweat vest worked a treat. I look like I've just got out of the shower fully clothed. I'll be glad when I get to 96 k's but will not stop until last walk on 31st of march. Thanks again to Soldier on and to all my sponsors who have me up around $1366.00

And away we go. back walking today with saint

Still crook but determined to walk it out and just sweat a bit out. put on a sweat vest over my t-shirt and Saint was over the moon when he saw me putting on walking gear for first time in 3 days. did 4 blocks one way a kilometer along heyers and 4 blocks on burdoo then back along Torquay road and in and out of back streets. Totalled 4.6 kilometers. Those sweat vests work a treat and I am buggered but much happier having added to the total and closing in on 90 kilometers. will go for another walk tonight with Samantha and Saint.

Still laid up with chest and now head cold

Hoping to be right back at it tomorrow, sick or not.

Still laid up with chest cold and sinuses

2nd day off with. hest cold and shocking sinuses. I'll be back out there tomorrow so I can get to 120 by the end of the month. over the moon with the support received lately by some truly fantastic friends.

First day off thanks to chest cold

one cold wet day and i have to take a day off walking the next day. coughing like my mate Saint barks. I'll be back on the path tomorrow i hope.

Solo walk today due to rain.

I have tolerated walking in the mid 30's degrees most of the past week and on most of the days I left the dog and my beautiful fiancee at home. I was averaging 4.3 to 4.5 kilometers a day and made it to second last stop yesterday at Eora Creek on kokoda track. Today the Saints were breaking my heart halfway through 2nd quarter so raining or not I thought I'd head off. I got going at 1.45 p.m. and although still windy, the rain had stopped and I had left the dog at home. I thought I'd step the distance out a bit so instead of turn I ng at the 3/4 mark off Pioneer road into Burdoo, I continued and extra kilometer and 1/4 along pioneer to the side of the waurn ponds shopping centre then u-turn and back to Burdoo, turned right and back to heyers road up to kana another u-turn and back to burdoo and along to Peter Street. up to the Bieske roundabout back to kana around to our street and ticked over 6.0 kilometers in exactly 59 minutes. Drank a litre of water and wore my old NB runners because I didn't want my new Nike walking trainers soaking wet for tomorrow. Dog is rather disappointed in being left home. should be around 78 kilometers now. Thanks everyone that has been posting congratulations etc to me

6.40 a.m. start to dodge the 35 degrees later.

My k9 companion was glad to get up at 6.30 a.m. when he saw me getting up and putting runners on. I put his harness on him today with his name and my phone number on it. We hit the road by 6.40 a.m. and did the hills and this time added an extra hill in by going further along pioneer road and up Griffiths Street and onto burdoo. we turned up heyers road then when we got to kana we did a u-turn and back to burdoo and back along to peter Street and then up to the other end of kana and turned for home. we only added about 600 meters and got home at 7.32 a.m. a bit quicker than yesterday by a couple of minutes. Glad to have gone early. I still would have walked this arvo but 35 degrees would have meant leaving Saint at home and he breaks my heart with his sad eyes and crying when I shut the door. I reckon that's around 70 kilometers now. stay out of the heat this arvo. Don't know about the other states but I believe Melbourne will be 37 degrees. take care everyone and remember sunscreen, shirt, hat, shoes and shade if you can Today's photo is me collapsed in the recliner now I'm done.

My beautiful dog saint came with me again

Finally we got another day where I didn't have to leave Saint at home. Instead of 33 or 34 or 36 degrees like early in the week today was 26 degrees so as i started putting socks on thinking if I left the shirt until the last Saint wouldn't go nuts. I was wrong he went nuts as soon as I got my socks on. we walked the hills again for 4.3 kilometers and despite the wind it was pretty comfortable. As i went past one of the lollipop ladies I walk past every day she stopped me and read my t-shirt. she immediately wanted the details to donate so I wrote them down for her and she was great and a bit emotional as she lost family on kokoda track that she never got to meet. The thing that hit me most was a phone call from a boss of mine from the 90's, Inspector Holloway (retired). we caught up only last week and he has seen online about the walk I'm doing so he rang me today and talked about family members of his and mine that have served in military during WW2, Vietnam and Korea. Next thing i got another email from Andy at Soldier on letting me know that Mick Holloway had just donated $79+. I can thank you enough Mick if you are reading this. we used to have a laugh both being in the western suburbs and never had a cross word. one of the best bosses.

Saint is back on the team - 30 degrees

It was 33 degrees after I left lunch with one great mate but when I got home Saint went crazy and must have run 8 laps of the house barking all the way when he saw me getting ready for my walk. We headed off about 1.17 p.m and because it wasn't as hot as it has been in the last few days and also because I've taught Saint to always walk on the grass I let him come with me and we did some Hills today we still did four point three kilometers and it took us the best part of 46 minutes when we got home all he wanted to do was lay down on the cold wooden floor and so did I. But it was another great walk it really was and I'm loving every minute of it. That puts me somewhere around 61ks I haven't worked it out yet. I will shortly and I'll add it onto this blog. I'm still loving it and even though at this rate I'll get to 96 k's way too early I've got no intention of stopping when April comes around I'll keep on walking and maybe raise money for the emergency service workers who are over represented in suicides and PTSD. . Regardless I'm as hot as a wedge tail Eagles feathers so I will have a quick drink and a shower and I might go for another walk later but unfortunately the orthopaedic surgeon who fused my big toe on the right foot did a really s*** job and although it was done in August it keeps splitting every day that I walk so I have to get it done again after the walks over and in the mean time I just wrap it and we're happy about saint being back on the team and he thought he was never gonna make it. Alright everyone take it easy and if you're in a hot environment or a wet environment take care and if you're walking long distances or running just remember it's no good to anybody if you hurt yourself and you can't raise money all the best see you tomorrow The phot is where I stopped and gave Saint a drink. He is exhausted now.

Alone again. weather said it would cool down but at 3.13 p.m. still 34.7

I was fairly happy it was cooling down around 2 p.m. so I waited till 3.10 got shirt on and left at 3.13 without the mate 'Saint' because it rose back to 34.7 degrees. I walked same track as yesterdayan by the time I turned the second last corner with only 800 meters to go the wind picked up enormously and weather dropped to 24.7 degrees. Finished at 3.52 p.m. but did stop for 2 minutes when a little primary school girl ran up towards me sobbing. I asked her to stop and she told me her mum was supposed to meet her on the corner near school but didn't show up. I offered her my phone and wrote down my number for her but she settled and ran on. poor little bugger. I've just told Saint tomorrow and Friday will only be 24 degrees and I made the mistake of telling him we can walk together the next 2 days. As soon as I said 'walk' he ran straight to the front door and is still laying there. He's a funny bugger. I think that makes my total 56.9 kilometres now. I amenjoying the walk very much and with my son in the Army infantry and my cousin (like a brother) Bruce and his mates Leigh, Bob, Shaun and a champion mate Chris all damaged by the Army plus my uncle Ken ex Korean war (now 91) and my dad (R.I.P) HMAS Warramunga (the first one) and his dad (R.I.P) HMAS Moreton I use my walking time thinking of everything they did for all of us.

Still going solo thanks to the heat

left home at 2.02 p.m. while it was 32.7 degrees and walked same track as yesterday mayrah / kana / Peter / Heyers / Torquay Rd - Surf Coast Hwy / Pioneer / Burdoo / Heyers / Peter / Kana back to Heyers / Diesel/ Peter / Kana /Mayrah and home. 4.5 kilometres took photos of 2 dickheads walking their dogs on their right side of pioneer and Burdoo both on the hot footpath. I was rude enough to ask the bills if they had shoes on and if their dogs did too. Samantha was ar work again

Alone again - too hot for my mate saint and samantha is working kingston birthday - happy birthday chuck.

left home at 4.04 p.m. anheaded along to peter Street right to birdoo around the round about then up to Torquay Rd /Surf Coast Hwy and left along past Kingston funerals on Pioneer Road Corner then u turn at pedestrian lights and back to pioneer road and turned right and turned around the whole round about at birdoo and all the way back to Heyers Road along to kana and to Mayrah turned right and along 6 houses to home. it was 31.7 when I left and 32.1 when I got home. arrived home at 4.43 p.m. 39 minutes . wore a hat and drank a litre of water on the way.

Too hot so i walked alone

Today at 4.45 it was still nudging 34 degrees so I couldn't take Saint or Samantha it was just too hot. I headed off on my own with a hat and 1 litre drink bottle and was able to get going a fair clip and covered 4.8 kilometres in just over 43 minutes. I'm worn out but I couldn't take a day off when I know the diggers on the kokoda track didnt get to decide the weather they would walk in. Looking forward to a shower and I'll try and get up early and try and walk early to take Saint with me tomorrow. still loving the challenge.

Sain't, samantha and i

hot bugger today so Samantha and I spent a couple of hours at Torquay Beach and had a couple of swims in the beautiful cold water. lots of sunscreen and even when we got home around 3.30 p.m. still as hot as a camels instep. Poor old Saint was not happy and followed me all over the house and eventually it got down to 26. I wouldn't ordinarily walk him in that heat but I trained him over the years to always walk on my left and on the grass. As soon as the mate saw me put on my 'Marching On" shirt and grey shorts he went mad and stood at the door below his lead barking like mad while I got my shoes on. we headed out about 5.50 p.m. an got back around 6.40 p.m. Thankfully the local fish'n'chip shop (best in Geelong in Peter Street Grovedale had put a bucket of water out for dogs. Saint was grateful until I dumped a double handful on his head. still loving the exercise and couldn't miss a day if I wanted to now.

Just saint and i today with samantha at work.

Really enjoying the daily walk and doing my PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder the world of good. Fairly warm out today and with the next 3 ranging from 31 to 34 degrees I need to get up early or wait until late but I won't miss the walk and Sai t won't let me. Today a rescue shepherd was being walked by a local lady. Not one of our group but she wanted to know if she could walk with us for a kilometres or so because her shepherd has been scared of people and dogs so I warned her Saint is likely to want to play but doesn't bit or growl. The two beautiful animals walked side by side and when we stopped to go our separate ways the two dogs licked each other's face. It was beautiful. The photo is typical of my mate after his walk and drink. He will be asleep in a minute

My mate saint and i

left it until later in the day but Samantha at work so Saint and I headed off. He goes nuts when I put my t-shirt on and runs in circles at the front door until.i put my runners on. As soon as I pick up his lead the barking starts. Today we went just over 4.1 and he loves it as much as I do.

Robbo, samantha and saint

Bit humid but cover 3.9 k's today and we'll on track to tick over the 96 and up around 115 at this rate. Enjoying the walk but mostly for the cause.

Robbo, samantha and saint

Bit warm during the day for the dog so went about 7.15 p.m. until about 8.00 p.m. Did some dog obedience work while walking but seems I didn't learn much. Dog did well though. 2 kilograms gone missing off me already hope I don't find the buggers.

Robbo and saint and samantha

Today Samantha walked with the best dog and I and we covered a little over 4.6 kilometres. Loving it so far. 35 degrees this Wednesday may be me walking alone. I can't drag my little mate out in that weather.

2nd day and day one

both days were 3.5 kilometres and yesterday humid when I got home from footy but took my kelpie 'Saint' today. Bloody show off ran the last 500 meters but he loves it. still can work out my donations which were showing $747 and 2 more reasonably large donations since but now show $648??????

Robbos march for veterans

I am gladly doing the march out of admiration and respect for my cousin/brother Bruce, Leigh, Bob, Shaun and my mate Chris Fairbank who is more family than mate. They were all Army and all suffer PTSD for their dedication to us and our freedom.

Robbo marching for mates

I'm doing the walk for every military veteran struggling with PTSD. specifically for Bruce, Leigh, Shaun, Bob and Chris. All ex Army all suffered for their service. my dog Saint is my walking buddy.

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:

120

peer support
sessions

72

employment
support

6

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:

153km

I’ve conquered Kokoda!

My goal to Kokoda:

96km

My Tribute Post

Paul

My dad and grandfather both Navy WW2. Cousin (Big Brother) Bruce, Mates Leigh, Shaun, Bob and Chris Frank (family) All of these heroes have been damaged for standing too strong for too long for too many with too few to help them.

My Achievements

Thank you to my sponsors

Legend Rank

Champion Rank

Defender Rank

Ally Rank

$515

Shanne

Keep going there definitely not enough done for men’s health. We all know about breast cancer but not many people know that prostate cancer kills three times as many men as breast cancer kills women

$100

Megan Billington

Always selfless helping others. I hope this comes back to you 100 fold.

$79.30

Bill Panagiotaros

$79.30

Michael Holloway

$54.12

Niecy

Proud of you Paul 🙌👏

$54.12

Matt Anstee

$54.12

Anonymous

A great cause, well done Paul

$54.12

Cameron Duncan

Good luck mate👍

$50

Facebook Donation

$50

Bairdy

$50

Michael Hodder

Great cause Robbo. Walk proudly. X

$40.37

Paul Robson

$40.37

David Vernon

Great work Robbo!!

$35

Samantha

$33.15

Saint The Kelpie Challenge Walker

Loving the challenge. This donation is from my dog 'Saint'

$27.81

Jason

$22.58

Moose.

Good luck with the walk mate.

$22.58

Ross Smith

Onya mate

$22.58

Geoff Nolan

Go Hancock

$20

Rick Oates

Well Done mate Great walk for a great cause

$20

Julie Barrow

$11.65

Anja Mosse

All the best

$10

Paddy James

I hope this helps in any shape or form

$515

Shanne

Keep going there definitely not enough done for men’s health. We all know about breast cancer but not many people know that prostate cancer kills three times as many men as breast cancer kills women

$100

Megan Billington

Always selfless helping others. I hope this comes back to you 100 fold.

$79.30

Bill Panagiotaros

$79.30

Michael Holloway

$54.12

Niecy

Proud of you Paul 🙌👏

$54.12

Matt Anstee

$54.12

Anonymous

A great cause, well done Paul

$54.12

Cameron Duncan

Good luck mate👍

$50

Facebook Donation

$50

Bairdy

$50

Michael Hodder

Great cause Robbo. Walk proudly. X

$40.37

Paul Robson

$40.37

David Vernon

Great work Robbo!!

$35

Samantha

$33.15

Saint The Kelpie Challenge Walker

Loving the challenge. This donation is from my dog 'Saint'

$27.81

Jason

$22.58

Moose.

Good luck with the walk mate.

$22.58

Ross Smith

Onya mate

$22.58

Geoff Nolan

Go Hancock

$20

Rick Oates

Well Done mate Great walk for a great cause

$20

Julie Barrow

$11.65

Anja Mosse

All the best

$10

Paddy James

I hope this helps in any shape or form

Thank you to my Sponsors

$79.30

Michael Holloway

$54.12

Niecy

Proud of you Paul 🙌👏

$54.12

Matt Anstee

$54.12

Anonymous

A great cause, well done Paul

$54.12

Cameron Duncan

Good luck mate👍

$50

Facebook Donation

$50

Bairdy

$50

Michael Hodder

Great cause Robbo. Walk proudly. X

$40.37

Paul Robson

$40.37

David Vernon

Great work Robbo!!

$35

Samantha

$33.15

Saint The Kelpie Challenge Walker

Loving the challenge. This donation is from my dog 'Saint'

$27.81

Jason

$22.58

Moose.

Good luck with the walk mate.

$22.58

Ross Smith

Onya mate

$22.58

Geoff Nolan

Go Hancock

$20

Rick Oates

Well Done mate Great walk for a great cause

$20

Julie Barrow

$11.65

Anja Mosse

All the best

$10

Paddy James

I hope this helps in any shape or form

My Gallery