Kokoda challenge for Aussie charity

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Thursday 02nd Febuary 2012

COME April, a group of 20 ordinary people will embark on an extraordinary journey as they attempt to conquer the Kokoda Track on the 70th anniversary of the ANZACs in an endeavour to raise money for BeyondBlue.
The majority of the 20 participants are from the Harcourts real estate group, including Cathy and John McLeod of Harcourts Inner East, the catalysts behind the extraordinary challenge.
By the end of the challenge, the trekkers hope to raise more than A$100,000 for BeyondBlue, Australia’s national depression initiative, through fundraising, sponsorships and donations via The Harcourts Foundation.
The group will depart from Brisbane on April 20, travelling to Port Moresby before embarking on the eight-day Kokoda trek, and return on April 29.
The participants from across Australia began training for the eight-day trek in dense jungle in hot, humid conditions at altitudes as high as Mt Kosciuszko before Christmas.
Mike Green, Harcourts international managing director, is thrilled that the McLeods and their team are going to such lengths to support The Harcourts Foundation and BeyondBlue.
“Cathy, John and the team are going to extraordinary lengths to support The Harcourts Foundation and BeyondBlue, and I couldn’t be prouder.
“It’s such a mammoth effort, all in the name of charity and goodwill,” Green said.
Established in August 2008, The Harcourts Foundation aims to provide financial support that helps, grows and enriches local communities, and has received more than A$1.3 million in donations from Harcourts staff, offices and clients around Australia and New Zealand in its first three years of operation.
To date, all funds have been raised by dedicated Harcourts team members and clients in the form of fundraising events, auctions, workplace giving, individual donations or “off the top” giving (a percentage calculated from each sales commission).  –Harcourts