Wild women put best foot forward for an epic charity walk from Manly to Bondi

Brookvale business Wild Women on Top’s annual Coastrek aims to raise a staggering $3million for The Fred Hollows Foundation

Wild Women on Top at Tania Park, Manly. Pic Jenny Evans

A Brookvale business is urging people to get off the couch.

Motivational fitness group Wild Women on Top is encouraging women to sign up for their annual 2017 Coastrek.

Walkers, in teams of four, will trek from either Manly or Kirribilli to Bondi over 30 or 60km to raise funds for The Fred Hollows Foundation.

Groups will trek from either Kiribilli or Manly to Bondi. Pic Jenny Evans

Lisa Marshall, co-founder of Wild Women on Top said that since registrations opened on September 1, 650 teams had already registered for the March event, and the hope was that this number would increase to 1000.

Each team pays an entry fee and pledges to raise a minimum of $2000 for the foundation.

“When we started Coastrek, we wanted to combine the fitness element with a charitable side and with nature,” she said.

Since 2009, the trek has attracted 18,300 walkers, raising a total of $17million for the charity, which aims to end avoidable blindness.

Wild Women on Top founder Di Westaway. Picture: Jamison Stead

Mrs Marshall said the comraderie of the event and what it gave to participants was as important as the charitable angle.

“I love the stories that come out of it. We have had people who have had hip replacements, or who have survived cancer or who have gone through a marriage break-up who did Coastrek and it changed their lives.

“It is also very empowering for families to see mum being a hero for the day and having a goal. Coastrek gives mums an excuse not to feel guilty about leaving their families,” she said.

She added that whilst 50 per cent of teams had to be female, many walkers brought their husbands and partners along.

Ruth and Gabi Hollows, pictured ahead of the 2013 Syndey Coastrek, are the wife and daughter of Fred Hollows. All proceeds from the annual event go to the Fred Hollows Foundation.

“But it’s mainly women, because women love walking and talking!”

Registering teams will benefit from a 12-week plan via email and video to help them on their way to peak trekking fitness, including important know-how on footcare, nutrition and hydration.

Coastrek is on Friday 17 March and teams can opt to walk from Kiribilli or Manly to Bondi.

Entry costs $162 per person for the 30km trek or $224 for the 60km trek.

www.sydney.coastrek.com.au