Corporate News

 

It’s a jungle out there for some kids and that’s just where Penni Donato’s heading to try and help them.

Penni’s set to hit the Kokoda Track next month with a dozen at-risk teens and another dozen business sector mentors on what is expected to be a positive life-changing experience for all involved.

The jungle trek is overseen by a team led by former policeman Andy Brittain, CEO at Geelong Youth Engagement (GYE), and has helped some 250 troubled teens over the past 13 years.

The Villawood Foundation been supporting the program for several years and our Celia Konstas will be taking part in next month’s trek.

Penni is one of the latest business chiefs, she heads up Richmond’s Allin Towbars, to join ranks with mentors from across the country and she’s champing at the bit to hit the New Guinea wild.

But first she’s staging a Kokoda 96 Challenge at Mt Lofty to raise funds to help the GYE program.

Inspired by Kokoda’s 96km trail, the fundraiser is looking for hikers to rack up 96 laps from the Mt Lofty Summit to Waterfall Gully on Saturday 8 August.

“The more people who join, the fewer laps each person will need to complete,” Penni says.

“It’s $25 entry and every cent goes to GYE. If you’re not able to join, you can donate at gofundme.com/f/kokoda-96-challenge – it’s a terrific cause which has done so much to help kids already.”

GYE’s Andy Brittain said the Kokoda program had helped hundreds of kids facing a range of problems from drugs, crime, family violence and more to get their lives and their potential back on track.

“We see absolutely stunning turnaround every trek we run,” he says.

“It’s really life-changing and not just for the kids, for their mentors too.”