The second annual Steps for STEPS charity walk was once again a huge success yesterday, March 9, as the Sunshine Coast community rallied together to raise an incredible $56,327 for STEPS Pathways College.
The event, hosted live on air by 92.7 Mix FM, saw radio presenters Mark Darin and Caroline Hutchinson walk a whopping 20km from their studio headquarters in Maroochydore to the STEPS office in Caloundra, alongside sponsors, volunteers and students from the college.
The weather conditions were certainly testing on the day, but even the most challenging conditions couldn’t stop the walkers from arriving at STEPS for lunch almost seven hours since departing Maroochydore at 6am.
STEPS managing director Carmel Crouch said she was incredibly grateful to 92.7 Mix FM for hosting the event.
“Every student who’s in our courses at the boarding school costs our organisation $25,000 per student, per year, and they’re here for two years,” Ms Crouch said.
“We currently have 19 students, so these events are seriously important for us. Without community support we wouldn’t have a STEPS Pathways College.”
Mark and Caroline said there were certainly some obstacles to overcome throughout the journey but seeing the smiles on the faces of the students made the hard yards worth it.
“We braved sleet, snow, lightning, thunder, and even a tidal wave,” Mark joked.
“STEPS Pathways College is just in incredible institution; they take kids who have left school and they show them how to get out in the world and get a job, look after themselves and cook and clean. It’s a magnificent cause but it costs a lot of money so we’re really happy to say that we’ve helped out a couple of students today,” he said.
“It’s fun when you’re out there, particularly walking with the young people from STEPS, they really are so motivating and inspirational,” Caroline said.
“STEPS Pathways College is a gift to the whole family. What they’re doing here at STEPS, it’s changing everyone’s lives, not just the young people’s lives but it’s changing the parents’ lives too. That’s why so many people get behind it and that’s why we made so much money today,” she said.
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