STAWELL’S Kieran Ryan will commemorate the centenary of Gallipoli in another place that embodies the Anzac spirit: Kokoda.
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The Movember ambassador will trek 96 kilometres through the rugged Owen Stanley Range, arriving at the Isurava Memorial on Anzac Day.
The ‘In the footsteps of heroes’ Kokoda Track adventure is an initiative of three-time Paralympic gold medallist and multiple marathon winner Kurt Fearnley.
‘‘I was lucky enough to win a competition Kurt ran with Movember, giving one lucky Mo Bro who raised more than $500 the opportunity to hike Kokoda along with four other people from the varies charities he supports,’’ Mr Ryan said.
‘‘Kurt crawled the Kokoda Track back in 2009 to raise awareness and money for Movember.
‘‘It was fantastic. I want to find out why he did it, where he got his motivation and how he got through it. I’m really looking forward to spending some time with him.’’
Fearnley will join the group on April 24 after contesting the Boston Marathon.
‘‘I want it to be hard. I want to get blisters on my back from carrying my pack. I want to sweat and struggle and get dirty. Kokoda is an experience.’’
- Kieran Ryan
Mr Ryan flew to Port Moresby on Friday.
He will visit the Bromana War Cemetery on Saturday before starting the trek from Owers’ Corner.
The group will walk for between five and eight hours a day.
A long-distance runner, Mr Ryan is no stranger to arduous journeys.
In 2012, he ran 100 kilometres from Dunkeld to Stawell to raise money for Movember.
Mr Ryan said he did not do any specific training for Kokoda.
‘‘You can look at it two ways. Either I’ve been lazy or I want to go in unprepared,’’ he said.
‘‘Part of my thinking in not doing any preparation is that the Australian troops who went over would not have known what to expect.
‘‘When you do Kokoda, you have an option to get someone to carry your pack. ‘‘I’m not one to take the easy option.
‘‘I want it to be hard. I want to get blisters on my back from carrying my pack. I want to sweat and struggle and get dirty.
‘‘Kokoda is an experience.’’
The Kokoda campaign was one of the bloodiest of the Second World War.
Mr Ryan and his group will retrace the footsteps of the soldiers who fought to defend Papua and Australia from Japanese forces, despite being severely outnumbered and outgunned.
Mr Ryan said he was looking forward to the Anzac Day service at the Isurava Memorial.
‘‘To be at Kokoda on Anzac Day will be amazing,’’ Mr Ryan said.
‘‘I spoke to Kurt on Tuesday night and started to get really excited. I’m buzzing – it’s like Christmas come early.
‘‘It’s hard to put into words how it feels to have an opportunity like this – I am so thankful and so grateful.’’
Mr Ryan will make a video journal of his experience for the Movember Foundation.
