It’s on again – The Great Walk Foundation is about to undertake

its fifth annual fundraising walk. This year they will be walking once

again from Bathurst to Blaxland. Last year The Great Walk Foundation

raised $120,000 and has raised in excess of $340,000 in the past four years.

A number of local and regional organisations were recipients of monies raised.

They are listed below:-

Walk Foundation recipients for 2011/12

1. Great Community Transport (Bus) $47,500

2. Nepean Hospital Infants Ward $30,000

3. Springwood Hospital (Adjustable beds) $11,000

4. Penrith Community Kitchen $10,000

5. Lifestart Nepean $8,000

6. Riding for the Disabled $5,000

7. Daffodil Cottage Bathurst $5,000

8. St Johns Ambulance NSW $5,000

9. Kingswood South Public School Special Needs Unit $4,000

10. NCNS $2,500

11. Gateway Family Services $2,500

None of this would have been possible without the kindness shown

by those who donated their time and money. The Great Walk Foundation

is calling on those who have donated in the past, and those who haven’t,

to help make a difference in the future.

Daily Diaries are available here

Photo Galleries available here

The 2012 Great Walk Foundation team are currently training up for

the annual Bathurst to Blaxland walk for charity. The walk will be

commencing on Tuesday 22nd May at The Knickerbocker hotel in

Bathurst and finishing at The Lapstone Hotel on Saturday 26th May.

The walkers are expected to arrive from their 170km treck at around 4pm,

so feel free to come down to the Lappo and join them for a drink.

Along the way we will be visiting the Parkside Motor Inn (Lithgow),

Imperial Hotel (Mt Victoria) and the Grandview Hotel Wentworth Falls.

The Great Foundation walk each year and raise money for charity.

The Foundation’s mission is to focus on the greater community needs

within the Penrith/Blue Mountains/Hawkesbury region.  A number of

local organisations were recipients of monies raised.

The foundation has raised in excess of $340,000 and many charities

and organisations have benefited.

The money raised from last years walk help fund the following:

1. Great Community Transport (Bus) $47,500

2. Nepean Hospital Infants Ward $30,000

3. Springwood Hospital (Adjustable beds) $11,000

4. Penrith Community Kitchen $10,000

5. Lifestart Nepean $8,000

6. Riding for the Disabled $5,000

7. Daffodil Cottage Bathurst $5,000

8. St Johns Ambulance NSW $5,000

9. Kingswood South Public School Special Needs Unit $4,000

10. NCNS $2,500

11. Gateway Family Services $2,500

The official walkers this year will be

Rob Wearn, Mark Mulock, Johnathan Green, David Crossman,

Tony Bowden, Trent Baker, Greg Nelson, Graeme O'Kell and Cameron McIness.

We will once again be ably assisted by our trusty road crew,

Brett Lockett and Wynne Rowe.

There are many high lights to being involved with The Great Walk Foundation,

however none so rewarding as actually handing over much needed equipment

to community charities such as The Great Community Transport. This organisation

desperately needed a new mini bus and through the generosity of our supporters

we managed to acquire the vehicle and have it sign printed so the public can see

where there support for the Great Walk Foundation goes, as it drives the elderly

and disabled around the Blue Mountains and Penrith.

This was a particularly special moment for the walkers as we honoured one of our

own and sadly missed Jimmy Small. Jimmy's wife Marion was present at the

presentation and helped hand over the bus. This was a moving moment for all and

despite the heavy hearted moments we feel Jimmy would have enjoyed happy

interludes like these where everyone was having a laugh as he brought to us so

many times.