This September I’m walking 40km to help young Australians who are still waiting for a mentor.
Some challenges are worth putting yourself out there for. This September I’m lacing up for the Light to Light Trek: 40km over four days along the rugged Sapphire Coast in NSW, raising funds for Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia. I wanted to do something that stretched me a little, for a cause that genuinely matters, and this is it. If you’ve ever had someone in your corner at the right moment, you’ll know exactly why I’m doing this.
The challenge: 40km over four days
Four days on foot, 40km along the Sapphire Coast, some of the most beautiful and demanding country in NSW. My legs will feel every kilometre, but that’s the point. It’s a small, temporary discomfort next to what these young people are up against every day, and every step I take is raising money to help.
Why this one matters to me
Right now, more than 1,000 young and vulnerable Australians are on a waiting list for a mentor. Not a want; a wait. Big Brothers Big Sisters carefully pairs kids aged 7 to 17, many facing real hardship, with a trained volunteer mentor who simply shows up, week after week.
What gets me is how far that one relationship reaches. Big Brothers Big Sisters point to research showing the impact of mentoring ripples out well beyond the young person, positively affecting up to 10 other people around them, including siblings, parents and school peers. One steady, positive adult can change the whole picture for a kid, and everyone in their orbit.
My goal: $3,000, and why every dollar goes further than you’d think
Here’s the part that convinced me to walk. Boston Consulting Group, when assessing the US Big Brothers Big Sisters counterpart, found that every $1 invested in mentoring returns around $18 in social value, and up to $23 for the most disadvantaged kids. So a $50 donation isn’t just $50; it’s closer to $900 of real impact in a young person’s life.
My $3,000 goal could help fund that turning point for two to three kids who are on the waiting list right now. Whether you can give $10, $20, $50 or more, it all adds up faster than you’d expect.
How you can help
There are two easy ways to get behind this:
• Donate: contribute securely by clicking the image below, or use this direct link: https://bigbrothersbigsisters.supporterhub.net.au/fundraising/bbbs-light-2-light-walk/paul-darcy
• Please share it: even if a donation isn’t possible right now, passing this on to one or two people who might care would mean just as much
Thanks for taking the time to read this, genuinely. Every donation and every share helps put another young Australian alongside a mentor who can change everything for them.
Paul D’Arcy, Direct Mail Solutions
