DAY 379 - THE FINISH 17/1/06 Adelaide - 15,430km
“Be realistic…aim for the impossible!” are the words appropriately placed on Wilson for me to see each day – and I have been reading it since Day 1. The impossible became reality after 11 sets of tyres & 15 pairs of New Balance shoes, when Wilson & I arrived back in Adelaide and achieved my dream of walking around Australia.
The feeling is best described as triumphant jubilation being surrounded by family, friends & supporters, as we walked the final steps along O’Connell Street & into King William Street to the Women’s & Children’s Hospital. It was an unbelievable experience, with sheer joy & elation as I went through the finish banner – mission accomplished!
The journey’s purpose was to provide new life opportunities for Children with Cancer by raising awareness and money as I walked around this great country of ours. It gives me an enormous amount of pleasure & pride to report, through the generosity of all the people who supported me, a grand total of $128,261 was raised & is likely to increase further over the ensuing months.
On behalf of our Kids with Cancer – THANK YOU EVERYONE!
The walk would not have been possible without the sponsorship & support of the following people & organisations who I give special thanks to ;
My incredibly supportive family – Emily & Adam, Heidi, Luke & Kobie, Mum & Dad, Lois & Alan, Graeme & Kath, Neil & Sue, Jan & John, Di & Angus and their respective families; MBF Australia – David Jones, Kerryn Thrupp, Eric Dodd, Peter Hudson, Bill Cotter, Michelle Cox, Nicole Rogers, Michael Vilinis, Tony Crawshaw, Brett Hawke, Geoff Huegill, Adam Brand & all the fantastic staff around Australia; Melon Head Melons – Brian & Lyn Schirripa & the Schirripa family; CMV Group – Paul, Michael & David Crawford & Nicole Heidenrich, Secure eHost – Abigail Davis, Nick King, Lisa Byrne, Grette Wilkinson, Darryn Cresswell; Hahndorf Lions Club – Past District Governor Bob Dewell, President Ron West & fellow members, all Lions Clubs & members throughout Australia; my daughter Emily for her follow up work with the Lions clubs; New Balance; Brenton & Gai Adcock; the McGuinness McDermott Foundation – Tony McGuinness, Chris McDermott, Heather Berry, Mark McGill & Caroline Loades; Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation, Melbourne – Michelle Olinder; Royal Hobart Hospital – Michelle de Quincey, Debra Lynn & Shelley Waller; Launceston General Hospital – Jo Mercer; Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation – Linda Davies & Rebecca Murray; Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation, Brisbane – Lauren Granger & Mel Payne; Children’s Leukaemia & Cancer Research Foundation, Perth – Andrea Alexander, Wendy Lush & Geoff Cattach; Blue Gum Embroidery – Neville Huggard & team; Standard Communications & GME Electrophone – Peter Farley & Michael Bersic; Nestlè Australia – Paul Prior & staff; Extra Mile Enterprises – Karch Ram-Bawn; Core Professional Coaching – Jacque Opie; Mark Stokes Signs; Baby Jogger Australia – Rachel Hargreaves; Luke Dale; Gus Saunders; Community Choices – Judy Tucker & staff; Mark Goldsworthy MP; Hahndorf Post Office – Rob & Kerren Hampton; Hahndorf Newsagency – Nigel & Jane Grivell; Hahndorf Physiotherapy – Annette Innes & staff; Balhannah Massage Clinic – David Rowe, Annette, Sam & Clare; Dr Graham Hughes; Keryn Kondoprias; Thomas Gas – Karen Carver & staff; the Adelaide Hills Christian City Church – Pastors Bruce & Julie Williams and my christian friends; Ann & David Haines; Shape Up For Fitness – Nardy & Brian Elkins & members; the Mt Barker Courier – Genevieve Marston, Ian Osterman, Cliff Hurburgh & Corey Norris; Tennant Creek Town Council – Jesse Mortensen, Kobie Dickson & staff; my son Luke for his assistance in Tennant Creek; John & Linda Dickson; Greg Nichol Transport; Hutt Street Photos – Catherine, Alan, Ben, Emily & Lindsay; Adelaide West Rotary Club – Catherine, Karch & members; Kiwanis Club of the Adelaide Hills – Ashleigh Gore, Peter Bahnert & members; Brauer Natural Medicine – Rowland Pengilly, Howden Printing – Wendy Greig; The Heart Shop – Barbara Deed; Acuhealth – Mark Ralph; Snowy’s Outdoor Camping – Richard Wescomb & Greg Verrall; Adelaide Bank – Vicki Crutchley & Shirley True; BankSA – Lee Hunt; Piccadilly Spring Water – Russell Gallacher & Jackie Mawdsley; O’Connor Airlines, Mt Gambier – Susan Hay; Robin Gorringe; Simon Eagles; Rohan & Sandra Muggleton-Mole; Lisa Pisano & Peter Doherty; Sarah & David McInerney; Terry & Liz Brown; David, Joy & Kerryn Laidler; Keryn Ogilvie, Alan Huggins & Crystal Ogilvie; Jenny Murchland; Joyce & Terry Hemmings and all my wonderful friends; all the people who provided accommodation & outstanding hospitality along the way and who I’m now proud to say have also become wonderful friends; to all the cyclists I met – providing great support & encouragement; the amazing generous Australian public, truckies, police, road workers & overseas visitors who also supported me along the way; Wilson Pusher Club members, with Elizabeth Clough, Michael Buckler, James Williams, Bob Dewell, my granddaughter Heidi & Ryan Mugan joining the WPC on the final day & mate Nashy registering 60km for the last 3 days ….and of course, Wilson himself – my best mate & lifetime buddy who stuck by me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 379 days.
And to our Kids with Cancer….your courage & resilience is inspirational. May God bless you and may the medical fraternity continue to heal you, so you can enjoy a happy, healthy & fulfilling life.
Dream - Believe - Achieve
Colin Ricketts
January 17, 2006
ADELAIDE, Australia
All previous Stories from the Road can be found on the 'Story Archive' page.
