A RENMARK woman raised almost $1400 during a six-hour charity walk around the town earlier this month.
Helen McInerney, along with her husband Dennis and friend Carolyn Anderson, walked 26km as part of Australian Lutheran World Service’s Walk My Way event, raising funds for children in refugee camps in Africa to go to school.
Mrs McInerney said the funds she raised would pay for a year of schooling for more than 50 children.
“I was amazed to have raised almost $1400,” she said.
“It was so good to have Dennis there because he was great support and Carolyn kept me going as well.”
The walk was originally set to take place in the Barossa Valley, but due to COVID-19 participants were allowed to do the walk in their own area.
“We went out to Paringa, and then we went down to the lock, walked along Bookmark Avenue and then back into town,” Mrs McInerney said.
“It took us about six hours, and the weather was a bit ordinary, but that was okay because we knew the kids who arrived in these refugee camps probably have to walk a lot further than we did.
“It was windy, it was rainy and it was cold, but we just kept going.”
Mrs McInerney said a lifelong interest in helping children get an education had led her to participate in the fundraiser.
“I’m a retired teacher, and Dennis and I have been to lots of different countries in South East Asia and seen the benefits of kids going to school,” she said.
“I couldn’t do it last year, so I was determined to do it this year.
“I’m grateful that my family and friends donated and supported me.”
For more information or to get involved with Walk My Way, visit walkmyway.org.au.