A few months ago, this gran made the headlines when she announced her plans to complete an epic fundraising walk from Sydney to Melbourne.
Well, now she's done it!
After 55 days, 1100km and over 1.4 million steps, Melbourne native Fiona Dowdell (53) did what she set out to do. Clutching her hand as she crossed the finish line was the little boy who inspired it all - her seven-year-old grandson, Tristan.
At the age of four, Tristan became the youngest person to be diagnosed with Friedreich Ataxia, an incredibly rare neurological disease.
The condition damages the nervous system, leading to loss of bodily functions and, ultimately, total incapacitation. It's also regularly accompanied by diabetes and heart disorders, which is often the cause of death.
As a result of the disease, little Tristan currently relies on leg braces, a wheelchair and an electric scooter to get about. He also undergoes regular physiotherapy, speech therapy and medical treatment.
Only one in every 30,000 people across Australia and New Zealand have the disease, so public awareness and research funding is low.
Fortunately, Fiona's walk has gone a long way to changing that.
The brave gran managed to raise over $30,000 for the Friedreich Ataxia Research Association, so every last step was well worth it!
“Fiona walked through rain, sunshine, mud, puddles and endured muscle pain and shin splints,” Tristan's mum Natalie told Mamamia.
“However, every day she kept going as she knew it was nothing compared to what Tristan will have to endure.”
