Download the brochure at https://kokodacourage.com.au/skippers-trek

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lugb1uJu5FI

Please note that when donating there is no obligation to leave a tip, this is not tax deductible and will not reach the charity.

Why Parkinson's and Kokoda

The Kokoda experience is embodied in its four pillars: Courage - Endurance - Mateship - Sacrifice. These characteristics are what is needed if you are to live well with Parkinson's.

In 1976 I joined the Royal Australian Navy on a short service commission then moved to defence industry, and after a short stint working for the Commonwealth, back to defence industry before retiring in 2019.

In 2020, after years of feeling like an old man before my time, I was diagnosed with Parkinson's.

I had been looking forward to a long and happy retirement flying my homebuilt experimental Lancair IVP round the country. I did get a few trips away in the plane before I had to surrender my pilots licence.

All my shared aircraft interests were disposed of. It was sad but an inevitable consequence. I had been involved with a variety of warbirds include a Spitfire, Mustang, Chipmunk and then the home built experimental Lancair IVP.

Having left that all behind we had to readjust, my family (wife, children and grandchildren) were all a great support helping me to readjust to a new and different life. Of course they had to readjust to the new life as well, particularly my wife.

I had passed on the opportunity to do the Kokoda Trek many times before retirement. In 2023 a group of my ex work mates were organising a trek, so I took the plunge and said I would go, quickly volunteering my Daughter and Son (see the A Team for more details).

There was a lot of trepidation about doing the trek, and of course all the ex work mates found reasons that they could not do the trek. So it was left to the A Team.

Training started in earnest for the Trek in October 23. Was I worried about coping with the myriad of Parkinson's symptoms, of course I was.

March 24 came around pretty quickly and before we knew it we had completed the Trek. (See the A Team story for details)

After completing the Trek it was suggested that we do this again as a Fund Raiser for Parkinson's. This is where we are today.

Launching:

Skippers Trek

Looking for your support in raising funds for Parkinson's research. It is planned to make this an annual ongoing event.

You can support us by:

Donating - Your donations will go directly to THRFG Parkinson's to support research on finding better ways to live with Parkinson's and the cure.

Join us on the Trek - Sign up to join us on the Trek and and help raise funds.

Form a Team - Fundraise as a Team, or if you are joining us on the trek start your Fundraising Team.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your tax deductible donation directly to The Hospital Research Foundation Group Parkinson's. This is the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the THRFG Parkinson's.