Katie McKenzie
Cause: UN Women Australia
Adventure: Trek for Rights Fiji 2018
As our Adventurer of the Month, Katie has scored herself a $100 Paddy Pallin voucher! To be our next month’s winner, make sure you’re uploading your journey to social and use the hashtag #IveBeenInspired.
What motivated you to take on your Inspired Adventure?
I attended the UN Women ‘International Women’s Day’ Breakfast and was really inspired by the projects they run in the Pacific. I wanted to help make a difference through raising funds and awareness of the issues facing women in the Pacific, as well as personally challenging myself.
How are you feeling about the challenge ahead? Have you ever been to Fiji before?
I am really excited about the challenge. I am not typically an “outdoorsy” person, but I have really enjoyed preparing for the trek by heading out to the Perth Hills for a range of hikes. It will be my first time to Fiji and I am looking forward to taking in the beautiful scenery, meeting the locals and learning more about their culture and history.
What have been some of the highlights of your Inspired journey so far?
I went camping for the first time in over a decade and I have discovered beautiful parts of Perth that I never knew existed before I started searching for hiking trails.
"I wanted to help make a difference through raising funds and awareness of the issues facing women in the Pacific, and also to personally challenge myself."
Do you have any tips for other people currently training for their Inspired Adventure?
I recommend spending the time to get the right hiking boots, and wearing them in on a range of hikes with varying inclines and surfaces. To help prevent injury to your joints, I think it’s worth adding exercises to your weekly regime to strengthen and stabilise your key muscles. In my Pilates sessions, I’ve been focussing on my ankles, glutes and core.
Have you noticed any changes or transformation in your life since taking on your first adventure?
Preparing for the Trek has been a great source of motivation for exercise. It’s led me to become more disciplined and focussed with my training, and has gotten me outdoors a lot more.
What advice would you offer to other people looking to complete a challenge like this?
Fundraising is a significant part of the challenge. I recommend starting the planning process early to ensure you smash your target. I had a lot of ideas for fundraising events, but when I weighed up the time and cost versus the reward for running the events, I realised I was better off to plan one major event.
Become our Adventurer of the Month to win a $100 Paddy Pallin voucher
Take a picture whilst on your adventure or when you’re training and use the hashtag #IveBeenInspired and your adventure hashtag. The most exciting use of the hashtag, with an adventure, and fitness focus will be our Adventurer of the Month – it’s that easy!
@INSPIREDADVENTURES
