Part of the virtual crew

OCEAN Grove resident Rae Hildebrandt has signed up to be part of LifeChanger’s KM’s4KIDS virtual challenge, and has the best gear to do it in.
Participants in LifeChanger’s KM’s4KIDS virtual challenge can register to go solo or participate as a team and walk, run, swim, paddle or cycle to clock up as many kilometres as possible, virtually tracking their way around the Australian coast – all 18,182 kilometres.
Rae is one of the many participants who has taken on the challenge and will begin to track her kilometres walking and rowing in a Husky by Husky Clothing Co. LifeChanger t-shirt when the challenge kicks off next month.
The clothing label is a partner and is supporting the initiative by donating 40 per cent of every LifeChanger item sold to the foundation.
“To be able to complete the challenge online is a great option,” Rae said.
“Normally this would maybe be a marathon, so to do that virtually and still try and get a bit of community going and raise some funds is important.”
Rae said she followed LifeChanger’s five pillar philosophy of health, skills, self, purpose and tribe and saw the KMs4KIDS as an opportunity to work on her health and fitness while also supporting a good cause.
LifeChanger aims to maximise the potential of young Australians by providing the resources, skills, education and pathways to develop a positive self identity through workshops and programs lead by inspiring mentors. Money raised from the virtual challenge  will go towards programs to help young people thrive.
LifeChanger chief executive officer Scott Watters said bringing communities together through positive initiatives was important during these unprecedented times, and through the virtual challenge hoped to raise awareness of the foundation’s work with young people.
Mike Sutton of Husky by Husky Clothing Co. said the virtual run was a fantastic way to build a stronger and more resilient young
people and community, while supporting the foundation.
“There’s been a lot of tragedy with young people taking their own lives, and having this virtual outlet of a challenge, getting people together outside and doing something physical… getting kids off computers and talking to their mates and talking to their parents is so important,” he said.
The Virtual Challenge kicks off on August 15 and each team or individual has 30 days to travel virtually as far as possible around the coast, before the challenge wraps up September 15.
For more, head to myvirtualmission.com/missions/53185/lifechanger-kms4kids.