UNICEF Australia - Inspired Adventures

Berlian Ayudya and Tom Walter

Cause: UNICEF Australia
Adventure: UNICEF Climb for Kids Everest Base Camp 2018

As our Adventurers of the Month, Berlian and Tom have scored themselves 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?

We’ve both been supporters of UNICEF for a while and are so supportive of all the work they do for underprivileged children in Australia and around the world. Looking back at our childhood, we couldn’t imagine becoming the people we are today without the privileges and security we had, so what UNICEF champions to do in giving kids the best start to life is something that we both feel strongly about. When we received an email one day inviting us to participate in the Everest Base Camp Climb for Kids challenge, we were not only inspired to support such a great cause but we were also excited about the prospect of committing to a challenge that will test us physically and mentally.

How are you feeling about the challenge ahead? Have you ever been to Nepal before?

We’re very excited, determined and nervous about our journey ahead, as it’s the first big trek we’ve ever done. Neither of us has been to Nepal before but we have friends who have visited the country and conquered the Base Camp trek, and they’ve all come back with some great stories.

What have been some of the highlights of your Inspired journey so far?

Sharing our story with others to galvanise their support has been great. Our family and friends have been so supportive (albeit a little scared for us) and have offered to help with raising awareness and donations for our cause. Another highlight would be hiking to Mt Kosciuszko over the Easter long weekend. We committed to two hikes, travelling around 20km each day. It was tiring but really worth it!

"We’ve both been supporters of UNICEF for a while and are so supportive of all the work they do for underprivileged children in Australia and around the world."

Do you have any tips for other people currently training for their Inspired Adventure?

We’ve found that mixing up our training has been really important for us to stay motivated and engaged. We’ll do big hikes on the weekend, but then back it up with functional training, yoga, Pilates or running during the week.

Have you noticed any changes or transformation in your life since taking on your first adventure?

To prepare for the challenge, we made some pretty significant changes in our lifestyle, including what we eat. As two big foodies, this is perhaps the biggest change we’ve made, but it’s paying off. We’ve both lost weight and our friends and family have been very complimentary – either that or they’re all incredibly good liars.

What advice would you offer to other people looking to complete a challenge like this?

Embrace the challenge and commit to your training.

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

Meet Aida Tamargo.

Aida had always planned to do something great for UNICEF and the children they support. It just so happens that what she chose was to climb the highest freestanding mountain in the world!

Growing up in the Philippines, Aida remembers the presence UNICEF had in her community and the positive impact of the organisation. During her career as a paediatrician, Aida worked in a clinic in the rebel-infested mountains of the Philippines. Aida remembers the presence UNICEF had in her community and the positive impact the organisation made to child nutrition, education and development. Over 40 years on, Aida, a mother of three, is dedicated to supporting UNICEF’s vision to build a world where the rights of every child are realised.

“Children are my passion, so when the opportunity to join UNICEF Australia on the Kilimanjaro Climb for Kids arose, I realised that this is something I have to do. Now, rather than later.”

“I’m both excited and anxious. I am excited that I’m doing this with my son (go Team Tarmargo!). It’s another chance for family bonding—to create new family memories. I’m also excited to meet all the other wonderful people on this challenge. I am looking forward to getting to know them and their stories,” she says.

Overcoming several injuries, Aida has challenged herself to recover, keep fit and train hard.

“This has been an amazing journey. The generosity of our community—and sometimes from unexpected places—has truly touched me. It has been a roller coaster ride, but with family and friends supporting us, it has been life-changing.”

Following the adventure, Aida recounted: “My son and I reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro together. The previous 6-day trek was gruelling but with magnificent terrain. It was an amazing journey. The generosity of our community truly touched me. It was definitely a roller coaster ride, but the support of family and friends, I had a life-changing experience.”