Altona North’s Alli van Ommen is testing her limits for a good cause by embarking on the Kokoda Memorial Challenge.
Money raised will fund the 12-month Kokoda Challenge youth program to help teenagers build resilience, self-esteem and life skills.
“I like what we’re donating money for,” Ms van Ommen said. “I really think their youth program is something valuable.”
But the Kokoda challenge is also something the osteopath is doing for herself.
“I’ve got lots of things on my bucket list, and Kokoda is one.
“I built my business around ‘without limits’ and I guess that’s who I am as a person, too. I need to be able to practise what I preach.’’
On October 27, Ms van Ommen and her Without Limits team will do the 30-kilometre cross-country and bushwalking event that is designed to reflect the Kokoda spirit of courage, endurance, mateship and sacrifice.
The farthest she has ever run before is 10 kilometres.
“I decided that the 15 kilometres wasn’t going to be a challenge enough and if I was going to show people that you can challenge yourself, I have to challenge myself,” she said.
“I’m just doing one long run a week and trying to have a balance, because being an osteo and seeing a lot of injuries – usually when people train for marathons or half- marathons – they do too much training and injure themselves.”
The challenge starts in the Dandenong Ranges at Ferntree Gully, continuing to the Kalorama Park and taking in the Kokoda Memorial Walk and 1000-step climb.
Veterans of the 39th Australian Infantry Battalion Association, who were among the first Australian troops to set foot on the Kokoda Track, will watch the entrants.
Almost 300 people took part in the challenge last year, and organisers hope to double that number this year.
» People can register for $70 at www.kokodachallenge.com
