Mornington Peninsula school kids walk 50km for Good Friday Appeal

More than 400 students from schools across the Mornington Peninsula have trekked 50km from Port Melbourne to Frankston to raise more than $200k for the Royal Children’s Hospital.

Four hundred and fifty students from Mornington Peninsula schools have set off on a 50km trek from Port Melbourne to Frankston to raise $200,000 for the Good Friday Appeal.

And, even before they left the start line at Station Pier at 7am on Tuesday, the students already passed their 200k fundraising target, and collected $230,000.

Their long walk, and fundraising drive, continues until they reach Frankston Pier between 3pm and 5pm.

Some of the 450 school students leave Station Pier for the iCan Challenge walk to Frankston. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

The students braved an early morning start. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

The students — from Elisabeth Murdoch College, Langwarrin Primary School, Pearcedale Primary School, Woodlands Primary School and Langwarrin Park Primary School — are participating in the iCan Challenge walk to raise money for the GFA.

The appeal supports vital programs, research and equipment at the RCH.

The students raised more than $200k Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Education Minister Ben Carroll said students should be proud of their efforts. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

GFA chairman Penny Fowler, GFA executive director Rebecca Cowan, Victorian Education Minister Ben Carroll, and Elisabeth Murdoch College principal Dean King, joined students at the start of the walk in Port Melbourne.

Mrs Fowler said the iCan Challenge symbolises “the essence of the Good Friday Appeal,” and added: “It’s everybody doing what they can. It’s inspiring that these kids would get up, come up here (from the Mornington Peninsula) early, and walk 50km. It’s incredible.”

Bec Cowan, Executive Director of the Good Friday Appeal, Education Minister Ben Carroll, HWT Chair Penny Fowler and EMC Principal Dean King at Station Pier for the start of the iCan Challenge walk to Frankston. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Mr Carroll agreed. “These are young kids, leading by example, helping their fellow peers who are doing it tough at the RCH,” he said. “They’ve already raised $230,000. I reckon they’ll raise $250,000. They should be proud.”

Mr Carroll added: “Thank you for putting one foot in front of the other for our most vulnerable and sickest kids.

They walked 50km from Station Pier to Frankston. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Ms Cowan said she was inspired by those walking all the way to Frankston. “Kids walking for other kids; it shows how much they care,” she said.

The walk, held every two years, was initiated by Elisabeth Murdoch College students in 2014.

fundraise.goodfridayappeal.com.au/event/elisabethmurdochcollege2025

Originally published as Mornington Peninsula school kids walk 50km for Good Friday Appeal