Toowoomba teen tackles 50km hike for homelessness fundraiser
FAIRHOLME College student MJ Scanlon will be awake before many this morning, as she prepares to hike 50kms for charity.
Toowoomba
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Earlier in the year, Miss Scanlon had heard Base Services’ annual Hike for Homeless event was in jeopardy due to the pandemic.
Knowing the homelessness charity was in need of a boost, she devised her own fundraiser 50kms Closer to Change, where she would hike through the city to raise funds for Base Services.
“In fear of the (Hike for Homeless) being impacted by COVID-19, I decided to create my own way to show support on behalf of Fairholme,” Miss Scanlon said.
“It’s so difficult being homeless and not having security, I can’t empathise at all, I can only sympathise because I don’t know what it’s like.
“(The hike) is about getting people to look and realise there is an issue.”
Miss Scanlon started the hike at 3.30am from the Base Service Soup Kitchen and is walking several hours on a path around the city.
“My fundraising goal was $5000 and as of (Friday morning) I was over that, I had raised $5283 as well as $500 from Premier Conditioning,” Ms Scanlan said.
“I think, when you’re a student, you get caught up in your own life, and it’s important to take a look around you and appreciate what you have.”
After some early uncertainty, the Base Service’s Hike for the Homeless will be held on October 24 at Jubilee Park.
“When I first met MJ four years ago, she let me know that the problems in Toowoomba should be ours as well – from that early age she was showing initiative to be a leader in our community,” Base Services’ Nat Spary said.
“What a great initiative she has organised to help those that are less fortunate.
“She’s (walking) 50kms and she’s raised way over her goal – I really think it’s amazing.”
Mr Spary said they were hoping for around 1000 registrations for this year’s Hike for the Homeless.
“We raised around $40,000 last year and we’re hoping to raise $50,000 this year,” he said.
“It’s a great day for the community to come out and say ‘hey, we care about those struggling in our community’, people who are homeless and those at risk of homelessness.
“The money that is raised goes towards the soup kitchen, which is such a need.”
Miss Scanlon will also be taking part in this year’s Hike for Homeless, alongside her friend and trainer Premier Conditioning’s Gio Davies.
Mr Davies has been a long time supporter of Base Service’s, often offering his services to people using the soup kitchen.
“It’s all about getting people moving,” Mr Davies said.
“With everything happening in the past few months, health and wellness has grown – it will be good to get outdoors.”