Townsville veteran embarks on epic 17,000km journey with assistance dog for charity

Townsville veteran Garth Murray and his loyal assistance dog Max are preparing for the adventure of a lifetime — a year-long, 17,000km walk around Australia to raise $300,000 for several charities close to his heart.

Veteran Garth Murray, with his Assistance Dog Max are walking around Australia for charity. Picture: Evan Morgan

Townsville Veteran Garth Murray is taking his Assistance Dog for a long walk for a good cause on Monday and won’t be back for at least 12 months.

The pair will be hitching up a customised, fully loaded 120kg trailer to begin a walk around Australia with the goal of raising at least $300,000 for the Australian veterans’ charity, Mates4Mates, as well as Act for Kids and the Brain Foundation.

Murray spent 15 years in the Army as a stores person before getting a medical discharge after breaking his neck.

“Eight months after I broke my neck, my mental health broke. Max is my Assistance Dog, and he helps out with my anxiety and my mental health,” Murray said.

“Just having him with me, it makes a massive difference and when we go hiking together, when it’s just us two, I don’t think there’s anything better for my mental health.”

Travelling south from Townsville, Murray said they planned to walk 17,000km to circumnavigate the country, including a detour up to Alice Springs to do the Larapinta Trail, and hopes to be back in Townsville by October next year for his son’s school graduation.

“I’m going on this walk for my own mental health, as well as to raise money for some good charities, some worthwhile causes.”

Murray is no stranger to treks having done the Kokoda Trail in May last year and both the Annapurna Everest Base Camp Treks in Nepal last November.

Veteran Garth Murray, with his Assistance Dog Max are walking around Australia for charity. Picture: Evan Morgan

But believes this challenge will be his toughest and said only seven other people had ever walked around the country.

“There’s only been seven people that have completed it, and not all of those seven have done it in one go.

“So the odds are against us of actually completing it, but I’ll be the only thing will be stopping me or stopping us from completing it will be injury. We’re trying our absolute hardest but it is a massive feat so we will see what happens.

“I think there’s only been one other person that’s done it at 17,000 kilometres. I think the average is 15,644 kilometres, so bitten off a little more than we have to.”

Garth said he chose Mates4Mates to give back to an ex-service organisation that helps veterans and provided him with support services following his medical discharge.

“With the Brain Foundation, they they’re an organisation that does research for all different brain disorders. Act for Kids helps out at-risk and vulnerable children and their families, children can’t look after themselves or they can’t defend themselves, so we need to do that for them as adults.

“This walk is a fundraiser, but it is also a way for me to possibly inspire others to attempt the impossible, to get out of your comfort zone and help others in the process,” Murray said.

Mates4Mates North Queensland Regional Manager Marcia Morgan said Townsville had a strong Veteran community and Garth’s fundraising efforts would go a long way to make a positive difference for many members of the Defence community.

“Garth is showing the country his true military spirit and his compassion for others struggling with the physical, mental,and social impacts of service,” she said.

Murray said he wanted to complete his walk before his ageing body caught up with him.

“I am almost 43, and Max is almost eight. My injuries are slowly getting worse each day. Max is getting older and my son’s year 12 graduation next year.

“So I want to get this over and done with and be back in time for his graduation and to help out with teaching my daughterto drive on her L’s.”

Garth and Max will be leaving Townsville this Monday at 10am from Mates4Mates in Aitkenvale and to support their journey goto https://personalchallenge.gofundraise.com.au/page/Garth-91423833

Murray will also be doing regular updates and posts to Garth & Max’s Australia Lap at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559923718296

Originally published as Townsville veteran embarks on epic 17,000km journey with assistance dog for charity