MEDIA RELEASE
April 2023
THE KOKODA CHALLENGE RETURNS TO KENILWORTH, RAISING FUNDS FOR LOCAL YOUTH PROGRAMS
The Kokoda Challenge, an annual charity event that honours the legacy of the Australian Diggers who fought in the Kokoda Campaign during 1942, is returning to Kenilworth the weekend before ANZAC Day, Saturday April 22nd, 2023. Last year, event saw over 1,000 participants hike distances of up to 48 kilometres, raising over $160,000 for local youth programs.
Teams of 2-5 people traverse through Imbil State Forest from Kenilworth, some choosing to trail run the 18km, 30km and 48km course that consists of over 1,700 metres of elevation. Organised by local charity the Kokoda Youth Foundation, the event is set to attract even more teams this year to take on the trails in support of its mission to change the lives of local youth through mentoring programs.
Despite finishing the course 3 hours faster than the previous year, last year’s 48 kilometre trail was described by participants as one of the hardest things they've ever done. The course includes crossing a knee-high creek, scaling mountains with peaks of 400 meters, and a 20-hour time limit to reach the finish line. In 2023, the final team completed the challenge in 16.5 hours, starting at 7:30 am on Saturday and finishing at 12:45 am on Sunday morning without sleeping.
In the lead-up to the event, teams participate in fundraising activities to support the Kokoda Youth Foundation's mentoring programs, which have helped over 652 young people across Australia since 2004. One of these programs, a Digital Detox camp for 12-14 year-olds, will be held in Kenilworth later this year.
"Building on the success of last year's Digital Detox in Kenilworth, this year we will be hosting a Digital Detox Program again for Sunshine Coast locals aged 14-16," said Chris Emert, manager of the youth program. "This fully-funded, 8-day adventure camp will combine challenging outdoor activities with mindfulness techniques such as breathing and meditation, helping children understand the impact of technology on their mental health and develop skills to manage their relationship with devices.”
The event will begin with a commemorative service to honour Kokoda veterans and other men and women in service. Teams are encouraged to register soon as the event is filling up quickly with registrations closing on Friday, April 19th, unless sold out prior: kokodachallenge.com.
Kokoda Challenge Sunshine Coast
Event date: Saturday 20th of April, 2024
Distances: 18km, 30km and 48km
Registration costs: team registrations fees start from $170
Start time: from 7:30 am
Location: Kenilworth, Sunshine Coast Hinterland
For more information and to register your team in the Kokoda Challenge, visit: kokodachallenge.com
Contact details:
For more media information, please contact:
Amy Puckeridge
Event Marketing Officer
0477 129 944