Jet Trekkers raise $150K
Kids to benefit as Trekkers make it into record booksDespite cancelling a number of legs due to rough weather, including a cyclone warning, the 60 riders of the 2013 ‘Cooktown and Down’ Yamaha Variety Jet Trek completed a cumulative total of 17,788 kilometres to become the first holders of the Longest Distance by a Group Riding for Charity on Personal Watercraft.
Not only have the Trekkers accomplished a world record feat, they have also managed to raise over $150,000 for Variety -- the Children’s Charity and their mission to empower Queensland kids who are sick, disadvantaged, or who have special needs, to live, laugh and learn.
There were 60 Personal Water Craft in the contingent, each with a road crew, making the pack 150 participants in size.
Trekkers met in Cooktown in the state's far north, where routes and journey plans had to be redirected to account for the weather.
The Trekkers followed the coastline from Cooktown on Sunday, April 28 and finished in Townsville on Friday, May 3, six days later.
Participants travelled through other Queensland towns and communities including: Cooktown, Ayton, Port Douglas, Yorkeys Knob, Cairns, Green Island, Etty Bay, Mission Beach, Cardwell, Lucinda, Magnetic Island and Townsville.
"The feedback has been terrific. Despite the bad weather, all of the Trekkers managed to have a wonderful time and band together to raise an incredible amount of money for Queensland kids," said Rob Goodwin, Motoring Events Director of Variety Queensland.
As with all Variety -- the Children’s Charity events, a mix of fun and philanthropy is prominent, especially when visiting the children and school groups en route.
Equipment was presented to local children and school groups in Cooktown, Cardwell, Cairns and Townsville. Trekkers were also lucky enough to witness the sponsorship of promising wheelchair basketball player Bernadette, when sponsor of the Yamaha Variety Jet Trek, Craig Marriott and his company Eventrans agreed to fund $5,000 a year, for three years, to see Bernadette excel in her sporting, schooling and personal life.
Positions are now open for Trekkers to join the 2014 ‘Ride the Tide’ Yamaha Variety Jet Trek, which will travel from Port Macquarie to the Sunshine Coast in February 2014. Visit www.variety.org.au/qldjettrek or call 07 3907 9300 for more information.
To make a donation or for any further information about Variety Queensland, please visit www.varietyqld.org.au
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