By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
IT’S a race against the clock to find a cure.
This is how Berwick’s Fiona Dowdell describes the decision that sees her a week into her 55-day journey – a 1100 kilometre walk from the Sydney Opera House to Melbourne’s Federation Square.
Fiona’s grandson Tristan, now five, may be the youngest person to be diagnosed with the rare illness, Friedreich’s ataxia.
It is a fatal genetic disease that affects thousands of people world-wide, and which could result in Tristan experiencing loss of vision, hearing, scoliosis and eventual cardiac failure.
Tristan’s mum is Natalie, who is the daughter of Garry, Fiona’s husband. Fiona and Garry were in the process of raising money for World Vision when they learnt of Tristan’s condition.
That’s when Fiona decided something had to be done.
“Garry and I had committed to doing a trek in Nepal to raise funds for World Vision, and we were busy fund-raising when Tristan was diagnosed,” Fiona told Star News.
“I said to Garry, this is something we should be doing for Tristan.
“I’ve always loved my running, walking and gym, and knew a walk was something I could focus on.”
Fiona set out on her walk on 14 March, and is planning to reach Federation Square on 7 May.
Her journey will take her throughout New South Wales, and the long way down the east coast of Victoria, before she turns north again through Berwick and Beaconsfield and continues on to Melbourne’s CBD.
Throughout her trek, she is being joined by a number of different people for separate stints, while Garry provides constant support in an accompanying caravan.
Tristan, Natalie, and Fiona’s mum, Carol, were at the Opera House to wish her well.
About eight days into the walk, Fiona spoke to Star News after walking three and a half hours from South Nowra to just near Vincentia.
Fiona is on average covering about 20 kilometres every morning.
And while she has reached $10,000 of her $20,000 target, Fiona said her walk was about more than just raising money for a cure – it was about raising awareness.
“You can’t put a price on that because all of a sudden we have hundreds of thousands of people who know about Friedreich’s ataxia,” she said.
And when it’s all stripped back, it’s about five-year-old Tristan, who is always smiling “from ear to ear”.
“He’s always happy,” Fiona said.
“It doesn’t matter what’s going on, he’s always got a smile on his face.
“And he’s always thinking of other people.”
For more information, or to donate, visit www.give.everydayhero.com/au/f-a-to-go, or www.fatogo2016.com.
