Tamworth Happy Smiles team training hard for charity walk

Teams have 48 hours to complete the 100km trek, incorporating both the Great North and Harbour to Hawkesbury trails as it weaves its way from Brooklyn on the banks of the Hawkesbury River all the way to Tania Park on Sydney Harbour.

The Happy Smiles team have been training hard in the Wentworth Mounds above Tamworth, taking every which way possible to Flagstaff and the surrounding peaks, including their first night walk from Kable Ave to Flagstaff and back with headlamps last Saturday night.

Unfortunately Jessica Aubeelaus sustained a tendon injury in her foot and resigned herself to the support crew in recent weeks, however young gun Gabby Wells stepped up to fill the position without any official training just last week.

Wells will join Sharon Goff, Lou Hathway and Marcella Blundell on the trails, while Aubeelaus will provide support at the seven checkpoints alongside Stuart Goff.

“I asked Marcella if she would do the Kokoda with me, but that wasn’t on the cards at the moment and she said she always wanted to do this, and here we are,” Mrs Goff said.

“We are hoping to do it in 28 hours without a stop or a sleep – I think if we stop we might not start again.” 

The team is already at the halfway point of their fundraising, raising almost $2000 of the $4000 target through chocolate and pie drives, raffles and individual donations.

Having that support behind them is also helping to drive them towards the goal of finishing the walk.

“It will be hard, but I think it will be more of a mental challenge to keep going, especially from about 1am to 5am when your brain thinks you should be asleep” Mrs Blundell said.

“The hardest 50km is at the start, which I think is good, but then it will just be a matter of keeping the legs going all the way.” 

The Trailwalker is being held on August 24-26. To donate to Dental as Anything click here.