Greg Chidgey, 64, hopes to walk from his Springwood home to Cairns in 11 weeks, averaging 40km a day.
Chidgey is planning to undertake the mammoth journey to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis research and support.
“I’ve been walking anyway to keep fit and a good friend of mine whose wife has MS suggested I turn my walking into a fundraiser. I decided on MS and the trip to Cairns,” Chidgey said.
Leaving from the Orient Hotel Springwood on 1 April 2019, Greg intends to walk a maximum of 56km and a minimum of 21km a day, six days a week, covering 2654km.
“I’ve walked three 40km days in a week and I’ll be walking a lot these holidays, so I feel I’ll be ready,” he said.
Chidgey is retired from full time teaching but doing casual placements at government and non government schools in the Blue Mountains and western Sydney.
He was a teacher for 40 years and taught long stints at Patrician Brothers Fairfield and St Dominic’s College Kingswood.
He began his career teaching History and English but moved to IT 30 years ago and has also provided network support at schools he has worked at.
He’s a long time IEU member and has received individual support from the IEU during his career.
Chidgey will be walking by himself but hopes to organise a support team that will drive a caravan to a pre-arranged venue at the end of each day, where he can eat and sleep.
Chidgey is looking for a corporate sponsor and support from local clubs, pubs and any schools if they are interested. He hopes to raise $50,000.
You can email Chidgey directly at thechidge35@gmail.com or make a donation at the Do It for MS website by typing Greg Chidgey into the search bar: https://www.doitforms.org.au/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.search&filter=participant&eventID=520&searchTerm=Greg+Chidgey