If you needed proof that conquering the Mt Kosciusko peak in a wheelchair was doable then here it is!
Two Paralympians with a spinal cord injury who were keen to boost awareness and raise funds for the Australian Paralympic Team, came up with the idea.
So, in November, Richard Cordukes and Chris Sparks, who competed in the Seoul Paralympics in 1988, joined up with a few loyal mates to take on the 18.6k trek to the mountain summit.
“The weather was atrocious,” Sparks told F2L. “Not so bad on the outward leg, but heading back we copped wind, sleet and rain.”
Magic Mobility came on board and delivered two new wheelchairs for them to use, and the pair were able to do the trek independently. “Everyone was amazed at how the new offroad chairs performed,” he said. Sparks rode in the 4WD XT4 while Cordukes trialed the 2WD XT2 for the climb that took five hours to complete.
The group raised over $47,000 for their efforts, more than twice the original goal.
“Thanks to the great work of NSW National Parks, what used to be a trek for keen mountaineers is now achievable for those who need to get around on wheels,” Sparks said.
Photo: Chris Sparks and Richard Cordukes.
Photo: The Mt Kosciusko Team