Donna Digby’s Larapinta walk for a reason: The plan to raise $50k for a future leader ARLP scholarship

A dedicated local and her band of walkers will embark on a mammoth trek to raise $50k to fund a scholarship that will get one Centralian’s foot in the door of a leadership program. Find out more.

The Heavitree Gap Range, one of the location that the Larapinta Trail walkers have been using as a practice trail.

Ten dedicated walkers are training up for a mammoth trek through the Larapinta Trail in a bid to raise money for a coveted scholarship.

The walk, organised by Australian Rural Leadership Program (ARLP) alumni Donna Digby, will take place over eight days from May 23-31.

The team have already raised $20k out of their target of $50k.

Ms Digby and the other walkers are gearing up, training, and continuing their fundraising efforts for the big trek.

“I’ve always believed in the power of visibility and representation – ‘You can’t be what you can’t see’,” Ms Digby said.

“This belief spurred my commitment, made on International Women’s Day, to fundraise for a scholarship for a Central Australian leader living in the Northern Territory to experience the life changing ARLP.”

Right to left: Donna Digby, Rayleen Brown and Nicole Walsh on a practice walk. Picture: Supplied

Ms Digby said that the group – which has four ARLP alumni from Central Australia – will be led by Benji Kenny and the team from 100% Finke River Culture and Adventure on the 100km trek.

“The Larapinta Trail, one of the top 20 treks in the world, perfectly symbolises the leadership journey,” she said.

“Sometimes the path is clear, sometimes uncertain; it can be rocky or smooth, but we must keep moving forward.

“This fundraising walk is an opportunity for us to embrace First Nations culture and the rugged natural landscape, share leadership stories, and experience the breathtaking beauty of Central Australia.”

The Larapinta Trail walkers. Picture: Supplied

Once the $50k is raised, Ms Digby said it will support a fellow Territorian leader from Central Australia who wants to partake in ARLP.

Walkers have come from all over rural Australia – with some hailing from WA, Queensland and the SA – but four of the walkers are from Central Australia, with five of the ten walkers being ARLP Alumni, Ms Digby said.

The ARLP program is run by the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, a not-for-profit company that calls itself a “for-purpose organisation driving change and fostering resilience in rural, regional and remote communities through the development of courageous and authentic leadership” on its website.

Originally published as Donna Digby’s Larapinta walk for a reason: The plan to raise $50k for a future leader ARLP scholarship