Tilly walks the walk to help out a mate

THIS year’s Bloody Long Walk on 18 May will have a participant in young Bacchus Marsh girl Tilly Grant who is joining in to support a cause in honour of one of her best friends.

And for Tilly, a promising local athlete, taking part in the 35-kilometre course for the first time is something of a win.

She has been pestering her mother Alli Grant to be allowed to do the full walk for several years – and Ms Grant has finally relented.

The Bloody Long Walk is a fundraiser for research into mitochondrial disease. Ms Grant has completed the course alongside Kat Barlow, whose son Noah has the condition, for the past four years.

The link is that Tilly, who is about to turn 14, and 14-year-old Noah are good friends.

“Tilly has been there with Noah to walk next to him in his wheelchair at the finish line,” Ms Grant said.

“Every year she has begged me to let her do it so she can do her bit to try and find a cure for this horrible incurable disease.

“I’ve given up and this year, she will walk with me. I don’t know that she knows what she’s in for – but I want to support her and I feel that there would be a lot of locals who also would.

“Noah is a very much loved part of Bacchus Marsh.”

As for Tilly, she can’t wait for 18 May.

“For so many years I have walked the last few kilometres or watched mum cross the finish line with Noah’s mum Kat, but now it’s my turn,” she said.

“I’ve seen how sore Mum is when she does it, so it makes me a bit nervous, but I want to do my bit to try and raise money to help with research for mito.

“It also means I finally get to be an official Noah’s Ninja; Noah is one of my besties and he’s a legend.

“I’m doing this for him, and I know I’m going to have sore feet but Mum’s going to walk with me every step of the way.

“She says she’ll even slow down for me – but I’m hoping it’ll be me having to slow down for her!”

Noah was born at just 29 weeks. He received a preliminary diagnosis of mitochondrial disease at five years of age, and the diagnosis was confirmed when he was eight.

He is now captain of the Mito Movement and was the 2023 Moorabool Young Citizen of the Year.

“I want to be a leader who represents diversity and disability and to change the world for people like me,” he has said.

“I choose to be happy.”

The Bloody Long Walk starts at 7am on 18 May from Yarra Bend Park in Fairfield and follows a course through parklands to the finish at the St Kilda Sea Baths.

Tilly’s page on the event website is at event.bloodylongwalk.com.au/fundraisers/TillyGrant/Melbourne .