Overland Jack

[Overlandman]

All the best to Jack, Chris & the support team
I had heard the group will be staying in Huts each night, (Private huts maybe?)
Donations can be made via the Overland Jack Facebook page.

From the Examiner
Video attached in link

http://www.examiner.com.au/story/294937 ... deo/?cs=95

FIREFIGHTERS, a paramedic and a teacher will all be walking the Overland Track with Chris Duffy and his son Jack to raise funds for Life Without Barriers.

On April 14, Mr Duffy will carry Jack, 8, on his back across the 65-kilometre journey, with a 12-member support crew.

The support crew will be walking with the father and son to carry water, food, nappies and other medical supplies to assist with their journey.

Mr Duffy said the group wanted to raise $70,000 for Life Without Barriers but any amount raised would be beneficial.

"It is easy to get inspiration with Jack everyday," said Mr Duffy of his son, who has cerebral palsy spastic quadriplegia.

"The challenges that Jack has to go through inspires us to do anything really, and to give kids like Jack the chance to have these adventures, to do something that they wouldn't normally be able to do."

[Scottyk]

Good luck to him.
Hope the weather holds up

[DanShell]

Yeh good luck to them, I hope it's a pleasant experience.
I'll be up there the same time...

[Overlandman]

Jack is on the track,
Hope they have a not too wet trip

http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasma ... 7303256389

TACKLING Tasmania’s Overland Track is a daunting mission for even the hardiest of souls. But an inspiring Tasmanian family — accustomed to overcoming more hurdles than most — headed off from Cradle Mountain today with 65km of duckboard and bush tracks ahead.

Erin and Chris Duffy and their eight-year-old son Jack also hope to raise money and awareness as they traverse the wilderness towards Lake St Clair National Park.

Jack, who has cerebral palsy spastic quadriplegia, will be carried on his dad’s back in a specially-designed backpack during the six-day trek.

They will be supported by a crew of 11 hikers, including police officers, firefighters and paramedics — all of whom Jack is sure to keep entertained.

The family has dubbed its fundraising adventure “Overland Jack” and has already raised $16,000 for Life Without Barriers — a national not-for-profit group that helps people with disabilities, mental health issues and homelessness.

Jack caught the public’s attention in 2009 when dad Chris kayaked almost 600km from Launceston to Hobart.

Jack joined his dad during parts of the adventure, which pulled in more than $70,000 in donations for the St Giles Society.

To find out more about Overland Jack, click here.

[Overlandman]

Final Update from ABC/
Well done to Jack & the Crew

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-20/c ... al/6406436

A Tasmanian man says his son's happy nature inspired him to carry the boy who has a disability for a week-long bushwalk on the Overland Track.

Eight-year-old Jack Duffy has cerebral palsy and cannot walk, talk or eat on his own.

Most people who walk the Overland Track take a backpack that weighs between 13 and 20 kilograms.

But Jack's father Chris Duffy's backpack was specially designed to carry his son Jack, who weighs 37 kilograms.

Mr Duffy said the highlight of the walk was a rest stop at one of the mountain passes.

"I was sitting there looking at Jack and sort of got a little emotional thinking that he was probably the first non-abled body, little boy or person maybe to be in that spot," he said.

The gruelling bushwalk would not have been possible without the support of 13 friends who carried extra gear like nappies and specialised feeding equipment for Jack.

Lauren Atkinson, a real estate agent in Launceston, decided to volunteer as one of the Mr Duffys' support crew.

"I don't think anyone can really appreciate how difficult it is to carry 37 kilos of wriggling child on your back, but Chris is a gun, Chris is amazing," she said. He just did it. There were some quite treacherous parts of the walk and he just did it and Jack loved it, every second."

Mr Duffy said he knew his son was having a good time.

"He's got amazing expression, he doesn't miss a thing, he's a cheeky little rat, really," he said.

"His smile, it sucks people in, just his attitude to life."

Jack's mother Erin was also on the trip, putting extra layers on her son at times to make sure he stayed warm when it started snowing.

She said it was obvious how much Jack enjoyed the six-day walk.

"Being out in the wilderness with his dad and just having fun, it was just so much fun and it was just really rewarding to see him so happy," she said.

It is not the first time Mr Duffy has been on an adventure with his son in Tasmania.

"We got the inspiration through Jack because he's such an inspirational little man," he said.

"He's got so many reasons not to be happy, content with his own life, because of challenges he faces, but he's so happy and loving and inspires us every day to do these things."

Ms Duffy said there were children who did not have the same support as her son and he wanted to raise money to help them.

"We'd like to do something that involves more people and lets more kids like Jack get involved," she said.

"And we're considering trying to get a bunch of kids to a triathlon together, with support crews for each of those individual children."

[DanShell]

Well done to them, I hope the weather was great for their walk.

[Nuts]

Overland Jack this Wednesday on Southern Cross /Tas at 7:30 pm. Great effort Jack and Co

[Overlandman]

+1 on the great effort.
Enjoyed the show.
Regards Overlandman

[DanShell]

I was up there around the same time as this was filmed. Its a lifetime commitment just to bring up able bodied kids but those guys are at a much different level. Good on them for doing things like this.

[GPSGuided]

Inspirational!