By Jena Carr
A Geelong father and son team have embarked on a trip to Papua New Guinea to raise money and awareness for Type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 Foundation’s Leif McCaughley and son Leo left Australia on Wednesday, August 8, to conquer the Kokoda Trail to show daughter Lila that anything is possible.
“My daughter Lila was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes 10 years ago and we started the foundation to create awareness and help people manage the day-to-day challenges,” Mr McCaughley said.
“The Trek is nerve-wracking because I’ve never done anything like that, particularly in a different country.
“My son and I have been training as much as we can outside of work and school and doing treks on the weekend… whenever we find a block of time, there’s some sort of training.
“Leo is also turning 15 next week on day two of the trip and he’s doing it to show his sister that he’s there to support her and to help raise money and awareness for the foundation as well.”
Mr McCaughley said he was glad to be able to undertake the trek challenge with his son and raise awareness for Type 1 diabetes.
“As much as I help him, he’ll probably be helping me as well,” he said.
“It would be a different dynamic if it was just me on my own going with a bunch of strangers, but with my son there, we’ll be able to feed of each other and help each other out along the way.”
The boys will return from their trek on Friday, August 18, and people wishing to donate to the Type 1 Foundation can do so at mycause.com.au/p/304916/leif-mccaughley
