MEDIA: Simpson Desert Trek

Newcastle community radio has been following the incredible journey of a group of Newcastle residents as they crossed the Simpson Desert to raise money for an important cause.

The group of nine walked for 22 days across a 440-kilometre stretch of the Simpson Desert.

They endured freezing weather and flooding, bogged support vehicles, a cyclone, and of course, some blisters.

The Novocastrians took on the gruelling challenge to raise money for Jenny’s Place, an organisation assisting women and children escaping domestic violence and at risk of homelessness. 

Newcastle Live’s radio segment Newcastle in the Morning had been keeping up with the whole journey.

Before the group set out in Dalhousie Springs on 17 August 2022, Ali Kimmorley and Donna George chatted live on air with Tracey Mac about their motivations and expectations.

Ali gave another live update along the route, announcing among many things that the group had run out of toilet paper!

Later, Donna chatted on air with Tracey just minutes after she arrived at the finish line – the town of Birdsville – on Monday 5 September.

By fundraising through the mycause platform, the group raised over $106,000 for Jenny’s Place.

You can catch the entertaining talks with Ali and Donna via this link to the Newcastle Live website.

See how others challenge themselves for a cause by viewing these inspiring pages, or start your fundraising page by clicking the button below.