Walk Ride Run for Palliative Care completes its mission

The event was the Walk Ride Run for Palliative Care, raising funds to purchase Cuddle Beds for local hospitals.

Cuddle Beds are double beds used in palliative care wards to allow people near death to spend some close time with loved ones, without putting weight on the patient's side of the bed, and they are particularly enjoyed by elderly couples that have slept together in a double bed all their lives.

While the fundraising team were delivering the cash, the walkers and riders aged eight to eighty were out on the beat putting in the hard yards.

Starting at the Cloncurry Equestrian Centre on Saturday, July 3, they travelled 160km over eight days following tracks, creek beds, power lines and cattle pads with small sections of the highway.

The weary but elated group arrived at Pamela St Hill, Mount Isa on Saturday afternoon July 10 and there were great cheers at the Mount Isa Campdraft that evening as they entered the arena.

The Campdraft also held the Mal Debney Memorial Encouragement draft in memory of the keen bushwalker Mal Debney who passed away a few years.

The idea was the brainchild of Mal's widow Liz Debney and fellow walker Rowena Murphy but the final group consisted of 16 walkers, four horseriders and a support crew of around 10 which carried the food and camping gear and provided three meals a days and smoko.

"The Selwyn Ranges are so beautiful, this is a girlhood dream of mine to walk across some of these hills," Ms Murphy said, halfway through the walk.

Speaking to the ABC when she arrived in Mount Isa a delighted Ms Murphy said the walkers showed sheer guts and determination to get through the trip.

"We proved you can walk from Cloncurry to Mount Isa," Ms Murphy said.

"We had 16 walkers come together in Cloncurry and we had a few others join us on and off but the friendship and laughter and jokes that we've had has been amazing. We've made a whole new set of friends."

Ms Murphy was particularly proud of her nine-year-old grand-daughter Summer who rode the entire distance on her horse Piglet.

"It was fun but my legs are sore," Summer said.

Thanks to the funds raised they hope to purchase two to three beds which will be used in Mount Isa Hospital, Cloncurry Hospital and possibly one other.

You can donate via their Facebook page.

READ ALSO: Happy 100th birthday to Dorothy Shorrock

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