MARG Symes returned from her enormous walk through the Outback in support of the Royal Flying Doctors Service’s Wellbeing Place at the end of last month, albeit less a few toenails.
Her walk saw her travel from White Cliffs, across to Packsaddle and down to Broken Hill, a 380 kilometre journey on foot.
Ms Symes said of the three walks she’s completed, this one was the hardest.
“The walk was definitely harder than in other years, a lot more red dirt than what I’m used to,” she said.
“We had three days from Packsaddle to Broken Hill where we had strong headwinds and that was really challenging.
“Walking 25 kilometres you’d feel like you probably walked about 100 kilometres. It was mentally draining too.”
Her usual route has seen her travel from Tibooburra down the Silver City Highway to Broken Hill; but this year much of her journey was on dirt rather than bitumen, which she believes might have accounted for the extra injuries.
“I had a lot more blisters and I’m going to lose a few toenails, which I hadn’t previously,” she said.
“The walk confirmed that yes, my body is definitely getting old, and that was definitely my last walk.”
She said she’d not set a fundraising or personal goal this time, but she’d achieved what she set out to do.
“I got out of it what I was looking for, seeing different scenery and things that I hadn’t seen before,” she said.
“I didn’t have a goal this time but it was mainly just to get out the fact that the Wellbeing Place is there and what they actually do.”
The walk and auction over the weekend saw Ms Symes raise approximately $25,000 through her efforts for Wellbeing Place, with donations still coming in.
Though the hardest part of the fundraiser is over, Ms Symes hasn’t had a chance to rest yet as she’s been busy planning the next fundraising event: next weekend’s RFDS Ball.
“We’re right in the swing of getting ready for the ball next weekend,” she said.
“Then we can take a little break. I’m not sure what my shoe style will be at the ball, crocs maybe!”
Donations to Marg Symes’ fundraiser for RFDS can be sent via the website: https://walking-for-wellness-2025.raiselysite.com/
