June 1st - Final Update...
The Desert Mums have asked me to write a final newsletter. What to say? There is so much to say, but while this letter to you all is longer than the others, I have tried really hard NOT to make it too long! Of course, we all have had a small insight into their days in the desert from their short reports each night via the Optus sat phone, which I translated into your daily desert reports (with some poetic license). No doubt their days were long and full of “events” - physical, emotional, frustrating, painful, sometimes boring, as well as conquering, humourous, triumphant and proud – personal fleeting moments that we could not possibly share.
They are all safely home with their families now…..both the Mums and crew…...after a journey through the harsh and unforgiving terrain of Australia’s Simpson Desert – a daunting place with an average annual rainfall of 130mm and temperatures ranging from 60 degrees celsius to near freezing. It’s a long way between a cold beer and an icecream out there. Nonetheless, they did it - all four of them overcoming their own personal struggles to tramp 430km over 1200 sand dunes clocking up an average of 636,000 steps – every one of these steps hopefully closer to a cure for breast cancer. In so doing, they have been able to raise $120,000.00 (and still rising) for breast cancer research. What a wonderful effort.
During the course of their journey, they have received many wonderful messages of support and encouragement for the project. Many of you have also said that you look forward to the daily reports and feel a small “loss” that they are now finished. Closure is good, so here is the last report giving a small glimpse into the feelings and happenings for the Mums since completing their trek.
The Desert mums arrived into Melbourne late on Monday evening, after a smooth charter flight to Alice Springs and a connecting flight to Melbourne via Adelaide. It was big day of a different kind, particularly after the emotional excitement of their welcome into Birdsville that morning. Huge thanks are extended to the Novotel St. Kilda for putting the tired and slightly dirty mums through the wash and into clean sheets and real beds during their whirlwind trip to Melbourne. Thanks also to Mike Larkan (Network 10) and Darren Lunny (National 9 News) for keeping the girls busy. Reportedly, there were two nights of pyjama parties and endless hours of chatting.
They then went their separate ways – Debbie fortunately was in her home town so didn’t have far to go to play with the kids and the self labeled “deserted dad”, Carolyn flew back to Sydney to await Andrew’s return from Birdsville by vehicle, Margot off to Adelaide and the arms of her family and Susie also flew to Adelaide to spend a precious few days with her Mum before another long haul to Canada and home to her family.
There is no stopping these girls. They have been busy bees since the walk. Deb has done several newspaper and radio interviews and has New Idea doing a story as well, so stay tuned for this one within the next week or two. Clearly, the word is still being spread for breast cancer. Deb remains on a “high” and describes her personal journey as a “fantastic, empowering, incredible experience”.
Reflecting on the whole journey, she says: “How do you sum up such a wonderful experience? When I look back on it now just two weeks on, it’s already taking a childbirth-like quality – I can only remember the good bits. It’s hard to describe how I feel, because I feel a lot. I am so satisfied to have achieved personal physical goals; I am fortunate to have shared this amazing experience with such remarkable people who are caring, intelligent, thoughtful and entertaining; I am excited to have drilled for water, found it, and drank it, in the middle of a very dry desert; I feel privileged to have been shown the Simpson Desert by Denis, that is an honour of gestalt proportions; I am taken aback by the generosity of people who believed in us and our cause, to support us financially and participate in this journey; I was exhilarated when we climbed Big Red, when we released 2,500 balloons (against the odds), and when we finally walked inside the Birdsville Hotel. I am pleased and fulfilled knowing we used this opportunity to help get the message out about being breast aware, and maybe save a life and much agony; I am fulfilled knowing we have funded a research program to make a tangible difference to what the world knows about breast cancer. I am proud, humbled and honoured to have participated in something that has, through research, and feelings of inspiration, support, and generosity…helped. Will there be a next time?..….you betcha.” Deb deserves a HUGE pat on the back for all her work in attracting large organizations to come on board with very significant funds for both the NBCF and also sponsorship for the Desert Mums project.
Susie’s first job after arriving in Adelaide was to speak at her niece’s school, Loreto, in front of 250 year 8 and 9 students and catch up with family and friends. She flew home to Canada on Sunday after ’30 sleeps’ away from her family. More huge thanks go to Jeannie Foster from Air Canada for getting both Kathy and Susan back home safely.
Susan and Kathy appeared before their daughters’ pre-school class and parents on the following Tuesday to show raw footage taken by Kathy as well as dozens of photographs. A tricky audience, as half the room was filled with active four year olds and the other with interested parents. They found a balance and pulled it off nonetheless. Kathy reports that Susan is a wonderful public speaker. (Very proud parent/step-parent here!)
They also found out that while they were away, the mother of one of the children from the school was diagnosed with breast cancer, and had a mastectomy last week. The day of their talk was the first time she had left the house since her surgery and she wanted to come out to the presentation. She came up on stage and gave both Susie and Kathy great big hugs. What an amazing woman. Both girls were moved to tears by her courage, as was most of the audience. Susan will also be speaking to the wonderful local breast cancer Dragon Boat Team soon, and in September will head west to speak at a breast cancer conference. She is keen to motivate all women to “get off the couch and go make a difference”.
Mrs. Lanaway, the girls’ teacher, had spent the month of May educating the pre-school about Australia. The children raised a huge water cooler full of money which they will pass onto the NBCF of Canada. “The support of the Little Miracles Pre School and the way they looked after our two little girls whilst we were away was awesome.”
Kathy reports that she has some hilarious footage taken when she left her camera running unattended while she and Den chased down (at breakneck speed) those recalcitrant camels. I hope this does not end up on the cutting room floor!
Susie sums up her experience – “Having time to reflect and digest the enormity of what we did, I believe this was the hardest challenge I have ever undertaken. Logistically pulling this off was difficult to say the least (four states and two countries involved for 18 months) and then to have such a dream run to the finish ….…wow! Walking alongside the most determined and committed team was such a pleasure and honour. I now know what ‘inner strength’ means and admire my friends now more than ever for being such powerful women.”
For a father and daughter to share this journey must be both unique and lovely. Susie wrote to Den…. “Dad - bloody hell what can I say here? You are one hell of a father and human being. I have walked away with such an appreciation of your kindness, love, generosity and humour. I had no idea you were so well respected out in the desert and it blew me away to hear the aborigine park rangers talk of you with such high regard and respect. There is not one inch of the desert you do not know and to walk it with you was mind blowing for all the girls. Sorry ......... Bill Peach does not quite cut the mustard. You put your heart and soul into sharing your desert with us and we are eternally grateful. You are my hero. Love you Dad.”
From Den: “ My job has now sadly finished and I return to “retirement” and my beautiful wife Jeanne – a lady who has so freely given of herself and contributed so much to the Desert Mums project. Angel, please note…. you may have got your man out of the desert, but you haven’t got the desert out of your man”. (as if I don’t know that ……. puleeese!) “However, I do have a double swag and a million stars waiting if you’re interested! As for the Desert Mums, I love and miss them all, and the tears I shed on several occasions were tears of pride. They all did a mighty job and I am so thrilled that my daughter gave me the opportunity to lead them across a special place I call “The Desert of Dreams”. Their lives will all be enriched by their experience and “normal” living will never look the same to them again. They have all climbed another rung of life’s endless ladder that reaches for the stars. Early in the trip, I told Andrew that the DVD player in my brand new vehicle was broken – selfishly put, I didn’t want the peace of my desert destroyed by blaring music night after night – the desert silence is, in itself, magical. However the night before the Mums walked into Birdsville, I relented, admitted my fib, and we all awoke in the morning darkness to the sounds of an Andrea Bocelli/Sara Brightman duet - “Time to Say Goodbye”. The dance I had with my daughter on the windblown desert sand and that special moment will remain with me for the rest of my life. (Yep, more bloody tears!).”
I know the Mums have done the NBCF proud. What an amazing foundation which helps so many. Thank you to Terri, Sue and the team at the NBCF from The Desert Mums and crew.
To all our wonderfully generous sponsors, the Desert Mums also send huge thanks and will be in touch shortly. They are currently sorting through photos and preparing messages for you all.
On a lighter note, the Desert Mums have discovered the world’s perfect weight loss program (walking 31 kilometres a day can do it for you too!! – beat that Jenny Craig!!) Their learning curve has been incredible - they now have cures for blisters (or at least how to walk with them), bad backs, dicky knees, know how to smuggle contraband, sleep sitting up or not sleep at all and still plod 31kms the next day, shower with the barest minimum of cold water and to eat food liberally seasoned with flies………..
Susan, Debbie, Carolyn and Margot, The Desert Mums, will eventually all settle back into their daily lives away from the adrenalin filled escapades of the past weeks, but no doubt, will never ever forget their time “on the track”.
