Trekkers raise millions for Fred Hollows

Around 3,700 participants took part in the popular trekking event, which this year is aiming to raise $2.8 million for research and awareness campaigns on preventable blindness.More proceeds are expected to pour in from participating teams, who are continuing to campaign in the hopes of reaching the target before the final tally date on March 26.Each year, teams of four – including at least two women – have the choice of walking either 60 kilometres from Manly to Bondi or 30 kilometres from Kirribilli to Bondi, with the aim of raising at least $2,000 to help restore sight in some of the world’s poorest communities.Fred Hollows founding director Mrs Gabi Hollows welcomed trekkers at the starting line and was also the first to congratulate participants upon the completion of their arduous journey.“To everyone participating in this year’s Sydney Coastrek, we thank you for giving the gift of sight by taking on this challenge. We are incredibly grateful for your support,” she said.“This year we mark the 25th anniversary of The Fred Hollows Foundation and I am incredibly moved and inspired to see people still going to such great lengths to help realise Fred’s vision of a world where no person is needlessly blind.”CEO and founder of Wild Women on Top Coastrek, Ms Di Westaway, said the event was a way for women to come together for their own health and wellbeing, while also changing the lives of others.“Coastrek has an even greater impact on the millions of women and girls who make up two-thirds of the world’s blind,” she said.“By taking part in Coastrek, women are restoring sight to other women, which helps th to return to work so they can provide for thselves and their families, and also helps girls to return to school and continue their education.”The participating teams were a diverse mix of people, mostly women, from different points around the world. Some had only met through social media, while others travelled from locations as far away as Hong Kong to take part.Since it started in 2010, Coastrek has had more than 20,000 trekkers and raised more than $16 million for The Fred Hollows Foundation.The Melbourne Coastrek will be held on The Mornington Peninsula on Friday 26 May, while the first-ever Sunshine Coastrek will take place later this year on Friday 28 July.