It's been three years in the planning but now Liz Debney and Rowena Murphy are barely hours away from starting their long walk for a great cause.
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Walk Ride Run for Palliative Care will take Liz and Rowena, as well as a cast of supporters on a 160km trek of the back roads and trails between Cloncurry and Mount Isa.
It was scheduled for 2020 but delayed to this winter due to COVID but now it is finally happening.
The pair set off for Cloncurry on Friday and begin the walk at 7am from the Cloncurry Equestrian Centre early on Saturday morning.
"From there we'll walk along the river and from there to Chinaman Creek Dam and then we take a little detour out the back to the Dolomite Mines for a bit of history," Rowena said.
"This whole day is 23km and fairly flat."
Liz they'll be joined by people from across the state - lockdowns permitting - some on foot, some on horseback, with a back up crew in the 4WDs as they trek their way across the ranges to Mount Isa, arriving next Saturday July 10.
"I've got twinges of excitement (for the days ahead) in between thinking 'oh my God, I still have to do this and this and this'," Liz said.
Rowena said the purpose of the walk was to raise money for "cuddle beds" for the palliative care unit of Mount Isa.
"These are basically double beds so you can lay with with your loved one and provide support that way, lots of times it's elderly couples that have slept in a double bed all their lives," Rowena said.
"The fundraising team has been fantastic and doing a great job. We are still selling raffle tickets they'll be drawn at the Mount Isa campdraft arena when we finish on the 10th."
They'll be travelling 160km over eight days following tracks, creek beds, power lines and cattle pads with small sections of the highway.
On the last morning they come into Mount Isa via Painted Rock and will arrive over Pamela St Hill, heading north to the next hill which has a table and shelter at the top where they will end with photographs.
They'll make another appearance that Saturday evening during the Mount Isa Campdraft.
"We'll go into the arena around 6pm and that will be the final welcome," Rowena said.
Anyone wishing to donate can contact them via their Facebook page.
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
