This year the Inspire Team has decided to enter a team into the Bloody Long Walk. The BLW is a series of nine walks across Australia. All 35kms. All to raise money to fight Mitochondrial disease (Mito), a debilitating chronic disease which has no cure*.
We’ve entered the Sydney North event (Palm Beach to Manly) held on Sunday 8th September.
We have been walking every weekend, starting with an 8km walk around Narrabeen Lagoon, building up to a 20km walk from the Spit Bridge to Manly and back and now we’re tapering down, ready for the long walk in three weeks.
We’re expecting the walk to take between six and seven hours with a short (twenty minute) lunch stop along the way.
This amount of walking does take some preparation: getting used to walking with a back pack, carrying our own water and snacks to keep up the energy and hydration. Good walking shoes and blister proof socks are also a must. As is sunscreen.
I love that we are doing it as a team. And it’s great to get to know people a little better (there is a long time to talk while walking).
To be honest, it was the idea of doing something community minded, as a team, that first prompted us to enter the walk. But the more I find out about Mito, the more I want to help people and their families living with this illness.
There is still time to join our team or make a donation to help find a cure for Mito.
https://event.bloodylongwalk.com.au/fundraisers/Inspire-Dee-Why
If you want to join our training walks we are posting all the information in our FB group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1027909197597808/
Meet Noah
Noah is the captain of one of the teams in the BLW. He is eight years old and deals with Mito every day. He needs to be fed by a tube directly to his stomach and relies on his wheelchair. His favorite thing is to make people laugh and he wants to live a full and happy life.
Facts about Mito
*Mitochondrial disease (mito) is a debilitating genetic disorder that robs the body’s cells of energy, causing multiple organ dysfunction or failure and potentially death. The harsh facts:
- Mito affects 1 in 5000 people, making it the second most commonly diagnosed, serious genetic disease after cystic fibrosis
- One in 200 people, or more than 120,000 Australians, may carry genetic mutations that put them at risk for developing mito or other related symptoms such as diabetes, deafness or seizures during their lifetimes
- There are many forms of mitochondrial disease; it is highly complex and can affect anyone of any age
- There are no cures and few effective treatments
Source: https://www.bloodylongwalk.com.au/sydney-north/about-mito/
