NEWCASTLE to Hawks Nest was one of the most gruelling days of travel for Andy Owen so far in his 1000-kilometre stand-up paddle board journey from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast.
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It was 4pm by the time Mr Owen paddled on to Bennetts Beach, just near the Tea Gardens Hawks Nest Surf Life Saving Club, on Friday, June 26, after setting out to do the 60km distance from Newcastle earlier that morning.
"I got pretty beat up," Mr Owen said.
"There was a westerly gale and it was pretty choppy."
After a good night’s sleep in Bulahdelah, Mr Owen and his 17-year-old daughter Sommer set out for the next stop on the Sunshine Coast man’s journey.
Mr Owen is on a paddle expedition from North Bondi to Mudjimba Beach on the Sunshine Coast, where he is a surf lifesaver, to raise funds for the Leukaemia Foundation and people battling blood cancers.
His Big Paddle for Leukaemia was inspired by a close friend, Nigel Harbach, who was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome, a form of blood cancer.
"The cost of treatment resulted in great financial difficulties for his family," he said.
"That’s when I decided I had to do something to contribute.
"The aim is to raise $100 for every kilometre of the journey."
You can follow Mr Owen’s journey and donate at bigpaddleleukaemia.com.
