By Peter Douglas
Avonsleigh adventurer Brett Pooles is on the home stretch of his trek of a lifetime, which he expects to finish before the weekend of 8-9 April.
After packing up his custom-made trolley on Sunday 5 March, Brett has almost completed 1150km on foot and via kayak, in an effort to raise funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
Brett finished the walk leg of his journey late last month, which included walking from Avonsleigh to Echuca (300km), before setting off in his home-made kayak to paddle from Echuca to Mildura (850km).
Brett told the ‘Mail’ he was still going strong and was on track to complete his ambitious goal.
“All is well, the body is just hanging in there (and) starting to get a little rundown, but I’ll make it,” he said.
“I reckon I should get there around lunchtime on Thursday (6 April).”
Many followers have been monitoring Brett’s progress, with the major milestone of the walk leg completed around 19 March.
Among those that have been supported by Brett are the National Breast Cancer Foundation, which posted their support on 19 March, after he finished the walk leg.
“Congratulations to Brett Pooles, who has now completed the first part of his incredible 1150km Man with a Trolley fund-raising journey,” the post read.
“As part of this challenge, Brett built a trolley – a fold-up pink kayak – that he has walked from Avonsleigh to Echuca.
“Brett was inspired to take on the challenge in loving memory of Cheryl Owens, the mother of a close friend who recently passed away from breast cancer.”
In February, Brett told the ‘Mail’ he had been planning to take the journey in two years’ time, but the death of a close friend’s mother had stirred a change in plans.
“Her passing was very quick, so I said that this needed to happen straight away,” he said.
“Through this walk, I want to keep the conversation going about this tragedy.
“A lot of the time, we don’t talk about these things enough and this is my way of helping out a friend.”
The 26-year-old has achieved some incredible walking feats before, but his latest venture is by far his most difficult.
Previously, his walking trips have included a 2005 effort from Avonsleigh to Rochester; and, last year, he walked from Emerald to Lakes Entrance, while also raising money for the Heart Foundation.
This time he has ditched the trolley for a custom-made version that folds out to a kayak, which weighs about 150kg.
Brett said he wants to help the National Breast Cancer Foundation in their effort to reach a goal of zero deaths from breast cancer by 2030.
To donate to Brett’s cause, visit https://nbcf-hostyourown.gofundraise.com.au/page/BrettPooles or follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/man.with.a.trolley.
