Former soldier to conquer physical challenges to improve health of returned servicemen and women

BRIAN Freeman‘s Anzac centenary goals cover it all — physical challenges, informing the masses and fundraising $2 million.

New Farm man Brian Freeman will take on the worl'd harshest conditions and toughest challenges to draw attention to the health and well-being of young veterans.

VETERAN  Brian Freeman is taking on the world’s toughest endurance challenges as a tribute to the ­Anzacs and to draw attention to the health issues faced by former servicemen and women.

The New Farm man is set to climb Mt Everest, travel Australia on foot from the tip to Victoria, trek through Kokoda and conquer Mt Kilimanjaro during the next seven months.

Mr Freeman concluded his 20-year military career as an operations officer in East Timor in 2000 and said the experience helped shape his outlook on life.

He began taking young wounded soldiers and the families of soldiers who died in Afghanistan to the ­Kokoda Track.

To commemorate 100 years since the Anzac landing at Gallipoli, and recognise the sacrifices of those men and women who have served out country since WWI, Quest Community Newspapers will publish one story each day online in the lead-up to Anzac Day.

Mr Freeman founded his charity, the Walking Wounded, in 2010 to raise funds for counselling and mentoring programs for young veterans.

“I felt there was a gap that needed to be addressed and I wanted to give them some of that confidence coming back and show them that Australian society is quite sympathetic and does care,” Mr Freeman said.

“I also wanted to address the increasing suicide rate in young veterans, which is a very big problem at the ­moment.”

Mr Freeman hopes to raise $2 million for the charity during the endeavour.

“I think the 65km-a-day journey from the tip of Australia to Victoria will be the most challenging portion.

“We’ve already had a huge amount of support from a few big companies from around the country, it’s been tremendous.”

Visit www.trackthetribute.org.au for more details.

THIS story is part of Quest Community Newspapers’ 100 Years, 100 Days, 100 Stories project, which will profile Queensland WWI heroes and families as the nation builds up to the centenary of the Allied landing on Gallipoli on April 25, 1915.

If you have the details and war record of a family member who served during WWI, let us know on our Facebook page or email [e-mail]

Originally published as Former soldier to conquer physical challenges to improve health of returned servicemen and women