Kenilworth to host 2023 Kokoda Challenge

Thousands of participants are expected to converge on the Imbil State Forest on Anzac Day weekend to join in the event that honours the legacy of Australian Diggers who fought in the Kokoda Campaign in the Second World War.

Staff Reporter

2 min read

January 19, 2023 - 3:52PM

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The Kokoda Challenge, an annual charity event that honours the legacy of the Australian Diggers who fought in the Kokoda Campaign in 1942, returns to Kenilworth on Anzac Day weekend, Saturday, April 22.

In 2022, more than 1800 participants hiked distances of up to 48km to mark the 80th anniversary of the Kokoda Campaign, and raise more than $380,000 for local youth programs.

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Teams of two to five people hiked through Imbil State Forest from Kenilworth, some choosing to trail run the 18km, 30km and 48km course that consists of more than 1700m of elevation.

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Organised by the Kokoda Youth Foundation, the event is expected to draw even more competitors this year.

“In 2022, we commemorated the 80th anniversary of the 1942 Kokoda Campaign, which was a momentous occasion for us,” chief executive officer Johllene Elson said.

“It is our mission to keep the legacy of our Kokoda Diggers alive, and The Kokoda Challenge is a powerful way for teams to learn about the history of the campaign and the sacrifices made by our soldiers.”

The Robina Kokoda Challenge teams raised $9709 thanks to the support of their generous community.

The 2022 48km trail was described by participants as one of the hardest things they had ever done. The course includes crossing a knee-high creek, scaling mountains with peaks of 400m, and a 20-hour time limit to reach the finish line. In 2022, the final team completed the challenge in 19.5 hours, starting at 7am on Saturday and finishing at 2:30am on Sunday without sleeping.

In the lead-up to the event, teams participate in fundraising activities to support the Kokoda Youth Foundation‘s mentoring programs, which have helped 652 young people across Australia since 2004. One of these programs, a Digital Detox camp for 12-14 year-olds, will be held in Kenilworth later this year.

“Building on the success of last year‘s Kokoda Challenge, we will be hosting a Digital Detox Program in Kenilworth this July,” said Chris Emert, manager of the youth program.

The Robina Kokoda Challenge teams raised $9709 thanks to the support of their generous community.

”This fully-funded, nine-day adventure camp will combine challenging outdoor activities with mindfulness techniques such as breathing and meditation, helping children understand the impact of technology on their mental health and develop skills to manage their relationship with devices.”

The event will begin with a commemorative service to honour Kokoda veterans and other men and women in service.

Teams are encouraged to register soon as the event is filling up quickly with registrations closing on Friday, March 25, unless sold out prior: kokodachallenge.com.