Veteran treks to raise funds

BY the time most people reach retirement age, all they can think about is relaxing with their feet up and enjoying the fruits of years of hardwork.
But for 69-year-old Macgregor resident Reg Walls, the last six months of his golden years have been spent following a rigorous training regime in anticipation of trekking the Kokoda Track.
Quest Newspapers reported the Vietnam War veteran would take on the 96km jungle trek to raise money for Mates4Mates, a charity supporting current and former  Australian Defence Force (ADF) soldiers wounded, injured or ill as a result of their service.
Walls said witnessing the hardships of war firsthand allowed him to understand the difficulties many ADF members faced.
“I was fortunate that I didn’t have any problems after Vietnam. I am one of the lucky ones,” Walls said.
“I am trying to make a difference to support mates – a cause I really care about.”
Walls said he had been working hard to ensure that he was in good physical condition.
“There is always a question of how much (training) is enough but the charity set up a physical programme to do which I have followed,” he said.
Mates4Mates spokesperson Jojo Furnival praised Wall’s selflessness.
“It’s really about supporting the whole defence community and their families,” she said.
Walls will take on the trek with 15 others from Port Moresby to Kokoda for seven days from Saturday.