Senior Constable Greg Curry will trek to the Mt Everest base camp in November – and he’s hoping to achieve more than ticking an item off his bucket list.
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“In November police from the PCYC are going to do a trek to the Everest base camp, and as part of that there is an opportunity for us to fund raise for the ‘Fit for Life’ programs that PCYC runs across the state,” Senior Constable Curry said.
“‘Fit for Life’ helps us to engage with kids who are disengaged from school. Police pick students up in the morning, we do sporting activities, whether it’s boxing, touch footy, basketball, after that we give them a healthy brekkie and take them to school.
“It’s about breaking down barriers between police and the community.”
Judging by the excitement Senior Constable Curry is greeted with at the Wallawaani Garindga program in Moruya, the program is a success.
“We want to raise a bit of money just to fund those programs so we can have them going forever – not just for a term or half a term, but continuously to help the kids in our area,” he said.
“We’ve been running Fit for Life and similar morning-style programs for years, and it really does work.
“It’s just a simple thing by getting the kids up in the morning. And the aim is to get them back to school not just that day, but every day – some kids might not have been to school for months. And it works. I’ve seen it work first-hand.”
Senior Constable Curry hikes regularly, but plans to step up his training before November.
“It’s a 14 day hike, and we’ll be stopping at a number of villages along the way before reaching the Everest base camp,” he said.
“It’s the opportunity of a lifetime. I’ve done treks before but not at altitudes – the Kokoda trail, and a few others. We go to five-and-a-half thousand metres, and because there’s 40 per cent less oxygen at that level whatever fitness you go with drops by 40 per cent when you’re there.
“It’s going to be a bit of a challenge. But we have an experienced trek leader – it’s a challenge I’m looking forward to.”
Anyone who wants to support the Fit for Life program – and Senior Constable Curry’s trek – can go to: https://pcyceverestbasecampexpedition.gofundraise.com.au/page/GregCurry2018
