WE DID IT!!!!!!
On Friday 24th March 2023, 8 ordinary individuals (most from Tamworth/Barraba NSW) divided into two teams of 4 (Rubys Dance Monkeys and Rubys Funny Fellas), took on a task to walk up Palm Beach lighthouse back to Balgowlah Heights with the mission to raise money for Ruby Mae’s Wish and The Healthy Hearts as part of the Coastrek Sydney Walk for Wild Women On Top.
We proudly wore our sponsor shirts, hats and active wear and walked for 13 hours, 52 minutes and 44 seconds, we did it with smiles, tears, grit and determination. At the 23km mark we thought we lost 3 teammates as the hurt, blisters and task was unbearable. A pep talk from our amazing support crew and some quick foot repairs kept them going until the end! PROUD is an understatement. This was not an easy mission and it 100% put each and every one of our team members out of their comfort zone. But we got across the finish line all in memory of Ruby, wanting to raise money for her charity and to make our sponsors proud. But we got the job done all in memory of Ruby, wanting to raise money for her charity and to make our sponsors proud.
There were signs from our girl Ruby the whole way from “RP” (Ruby Peake) carved into a tree that was used to hold a team member up, to fairy gardens in the bush, to bubbles floating in the air, the endless butterflies, absolutely stunning flowers and we cannot forget the random friendly rabbit on the beach! All these signs were needed at the time to help keep us focused on what needed to be done. She was there cheering us on and we felt her the whole way.
Crossing that finish line is a feeling I don’t think any of us will forget, the achievement of completing the mission and knowing how many donations we had received and were still receiving as we were crossing the finish was overwhelming and we honestly cannot put into words the gratitude we have for all the people that sponsored us, donated to the charity, sent messages, wore purple in support and took the time out of their lives to make this all happen.
We are so humbled to let you know that after doing a final tally of the donations and sponsorships received we can confirm that thanks to your amazing platforms we have well and truly exceed our original goal of $15k and have been able to raise an extraordinary amount of $21,790 in sponsorship and donations, which is a massive achievement in itself and for that we will be forever grateful.
We are in talks with a Hospital at the moment with discussions around what equipment/resources Ruby Mae’s Wish can offer as the first donation from her charity.
weeks after the mammoth task and we were all very stiff, sore and many of us were still wearing wounds from the hike. I’m sure once the pain has been forgotten and our wounds are all healed we will all be looking for our next challenge, so please keep following us on our journey raising funds to help Childrens Hospitals and the families that are in the unfortunate position that they require medical help.
“The task ahead of you is never greater than the strength within you” – A quote which was sent to us on the day of the walk.
Below is a list of our Major sponsors for the event whose business logos will proudly be displayed on our walking shirts for the duration of the trek:
- Ausure Insurance Solutions
- Stock & Crop
- Elders Real Estate Gunnedah
- Hart Rural
- ABT
- Bass to Barra
- The Cheeky Butcher
- Jalapenos Catering
LSKD Clothing have also come on board and are decking our teams out with apparel for our training and the walk itself, thanks to them both Ruby’s teams might at least look the part even if we are very much out of place lol
We are to walk as Teams of 4 and have drawn inspiration from Ruby herself with the team names “Ruby’s Funny Fulla’s” and “Ruby’s Dance Monkeys”.
“Ruby’s Funny Fulla’s” team drew their inspiration for their team’s name from a saying Ruby would use “Funny Fulla” which was in reference to a cartoon show she liked to watch, this all-male team is made up of the following fulla’s:
- Nick Peake – Ruby’s proud dad and a Farmer from Barraba NSW
- Kris Walker – Ruby’s Uncle and a Caretaker at Camp Kanga in Proserpine QLD
- Jay Morgan – Heathers Hubby & Kim’s long-time friend and a Mine Worker in Mackay QLD
- Callam McCarthy – Nicks best mate and a Rural Fencing Contractor Manilla NSW
“Ruby’s Dance Monkeys” team drew their inspiration for their team’s name for Ruby’s favorited song (Dance Monkey – Tones & I) which I’m sure we will be blasting over the portable speakers more than once on the 60km trek, this all-female team is made up of the following:
- Kim Peake – Ruby’s loving mum and Nurse from Barraba NSW
- Helena Walker – Ruby’s Aunty and an Insurance Broker from Ausure Tamworth NSW
- Leah Williamson – Ruby’s Aunty and a Vet Nurse in Tamworth NSW
- Heather Morgan – Kim’s best mate and a Nurse from Mackay QLD
This event is not something that any of the team members would usually consider doing, to say we are challenging ourselves is not an exaggeration of the slightest. We are attempting something that is going to put each and every one of us out of our comfort zones, but we think we can all agree we are doing this ultimately in support of Ruby Mae’s Wish as Ruby was a special little girl to each and every one of us in the teams and a very much-loved little girl to many family, friends and surrounding communities.
By attempting this challenge with Coastrek we hope to:
- DO RUBY PROUD – Any one of the eight team members would do anything for Ruby, and we all know she will be with us on the day, dragging us over that finish line if she has to!
- RASIE MONEY – It’s a privilege to be able to come together and support each other all whilst raising money for Ruby Mae’s Wish and The Healthy Hearts. We know every dollar counts and we are all very humbled at every single cent that will be/has been donated towards our teams.
- LAUGH – The past 7ish months have been a rollercoaster that we have
