Wake ready to embrace ultra adventure

THE chief executive officer of a prominent Queenscliff charity is leaving the sand behind and braving the ice for a cause close to his heart.

On February 18, Cottage by the Sea chief executive officer Adam Wake will set off on a five-day ultra marathon through Swedish Lapland to raise vital funds for the children’s charity’s REEF snow program.

Mr Wake said the 230km trek through the Arctic Circle will no doubt take him out of his comfort zone.

He hopes his adventure will mirror the discomfort and leap of faith children make when attending Cottage by the Sea.

“At Cottage, we work in a sector where we frequently ask children and young people to step outside of their comfort zones – how can we ask them if we are not prepared to ourselves?

“This fundraising adventure will help ensure more children and young people have the opportunity to live life to the fullest, leaving Cottage by the Sea feeling more empowered than they arrived.”

He said adventure throughout childhood is imperative to a happy and healthy life.

“The thing I’ve long believed when it comes to the importance of adventure in a young person’s life is that without adventure, it can lead to misadventure.

“This is one of the challenges facing many of our rural communities where they lack facilities, infrastructure and sport.

“An adventure at Cottage by the Sea might be to go to Melbourne for the day. It might be to swim in the ocean. Or it might be too pat a stingray on the head. It’s all relevant, as long as it’s a new or newish experience.”

To prepare for his challenging adventure, which will include trekking in temperatures of -40 degrees Celsius, Mr Wake has been wearing his racing gear in Queenscliff IGA’s commercial freezer.

“I thrive on adventure, but I detest the cold – it really is my Achilles heel,” he said.

“As I get older, I may be running out of time to do something this extreme in these conditions.”

For more and to donate to his adventure, head to cottagebythesea.com.au/braving-the-arctic-cold-for-a-cause