Service in Action
The Krazy Kosciuszko Klimb 2018 – An empowering challenge event with a difference.
This annual event is organised by the Cerebral Palsy Alliance and attracts over 200 participants and 60 volunteers. In 2017 my son and his support team climbed to the summit of Australia’s highest peak. In 2018 we were even more fortunate to have been part of this event in a volunteering capacity helping others with CP achieve this amazing goal. With lots of people power, ropes, harnesses and determination 20 more people have achieved this remarkable feat.
The idea for this unique event came from a teenager who was living with CP and who wanted to create an opportunity whereby she and other young adults could benefit from the life changing rewards that challenge events can bring. And so, the idea for the Krazy Kosci Klimb was born. To date, this event has raised over $900,000 providing essential funding for the Accessible Gym and Sports Program at Cerebral Palsy Alliance.
We experienced the Krazy Kosci Klimb from “behind-the-scenes” this year as we volunteered to help out where we could. What a fantastic weekend full of fear (of the unknown), fun (all those amazing dress-up outfits including Mr Men, Cops and Robbers, The Incredibles, to name a few) and frivolity (we knew what they were in for) seeing teams of walkers off on their 18 km round trip walking from Charlotte Pass to the summit of Mount Kosciusko and back again. We helped get bodies started in the Cafe Cart serving coffee and hot chocolate to anyone who needed it and, at the end of the day, to feed the tired and weary as they arrived back with a much needed sausage sandwich.
Our day began at 4am with a light breakfast, a short 20 km drive from Jindabyne to Charlotte Pass in the darkness of a 4 degree morning being extremely careful not to make contact with any of the wildlife along the way. While we saw kangaroos, wombats, rabbits, foxes and even a snake on the way home sunning itself in the middle of the road, we were fortunate not to have come up close and personal with any of them.
We set up Base Camp in the darkness of the morning where we would spend the day serving coffee, barbecuing sausages, sorting out the communications between checkpoints, standing up 5 marquees and, not to forget, getting the air-filled start/finish line just right. Our excitement levels increased the closer we got to finishing the set up in preparation for the first team to head up to the summit leaving Base Camp at 7:30am.
What a fantastic day! What a fantastic event! As a family we have become part of this annual event that not only raises money for a worthy cause helping those with CP to do their physio in an enjoyable atmosphere with gym equipment that has been modified for them, but also give them the opportunity to get out into the community instead of being behind closed doors.
Krazy Kosci Klimb 2019 here we come!
2018 Krazy Kosci Klimb
Sue Gough – Teacher/Librarian
