I’ve taken a stand against blood cancer.
Virtual Walk Around Australia. 14,080 klm
For Waldenstroms macroglobulinemia. Leukemia.
My name is Greg Butler, 70 years old and have always been an active person. One thing I noticed was, I always felt tired and had to push myself to do my sporting stuff, so off to my GP to see why. Over the next couple of years after many blood tests to find the problem, I was sent off to a Haematologist to get lots more tests done.
While I was having all these tests, a friend had mentioned to me about Run Down Under, a smart phone or computer app. where everyone starts at Canberra and runs or walks anti clockwise around Australia for 14,080 Klm. and finally ends up in Sydney. This is all done when you are out exercising, it is monitored on a GPS watch and then down loaded from the watch to a computer which then shows you on a map of Australia where you are and heaps of other great stuff. I was always wanting to do things like this and not knowing how long I would be able to keep doing these long walks, I took the challenge and joined up. This has given me lots of time to ponder, enjoy my surroundings and stay motivated. I had given up running a few years ago because of reoccurring Achilles’ problems but had continued walking to keep fit, so off I went, leaving Canberra 22nd December 2019.
I set off on my journey and after about a year I was diagnosed with WM or Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia, hard to say and rare to have. Only a few people in a million have this form of Leukemia. Due to it being so rare with not many people having Waldenstroms macroglobulinemia, it ends up being one of those cancers which doesn’t attract a lot attention from Government for funding for research or development.
So I thought that maybe I could use my efforts of walking to set up a fund raiser through the Leukemia Foundation where any donations go straight to the Leukemia Foundation. These donations go towards helping with research so they can continue to look for better medications and even better still, a CURE.
I have now completed 831 days and 14,075 Klm with 5 Klm to go. I am getting slower as I walk our main highway but the End is in Sight.
I have now set a date for my finish. All going well on the 2nd April 2022 I will do my last 5 Klm of my journey around Australia and incorporate it with my 250th parkrun at Kingscliff, just south of the Gold Coast. Come down and join me.
Please share this link with your friends....
All done. Thanks to everyone involved. Greg
My Achievements
Congrats! You've hit your goal!
$80 raised - you've given a family a night of emergency accommodation!
You've covered genetic testing!
You've given a family a whole weeks accommodation near treatment
$1,000 raised - you've made a tube gene test with state-of-the-art-technology possible
You've covered 3 months of lab costs for vital blood cancer research
You've fund life changing research for 3 months
Thank you to my Supporters
$2
Anonymous
$84.40
Jan & Tony O'neill
Stay well
$35
Greg Butler
$500
Twin Towns Services Community Foundation
Donation from Twin Towns Services Community Foundation
$31.32
Ana & David Robertson
We’ll done Greg! You’re an inspiration to us all! And a fast walker!
$31.32
Heather & Dave Taylor
An awesome achievement Greg. 250 parkrun's plus completing your Rundownunder! You are a champion & we are all here to support you. 😍
$10.44
Jill Vallentine
Way to go Greg 🥰
$10.44
Angela
You are amazing Greg! Well done with your journey. All the best.
$515
Twin Towns Services Club
Donation from Twin Towns Services Club
$104.40
Franc Noordhoorn
Wishing you all the best, mate.
$500
Rotary Club Currumbin-coolangatta-tweed Inc
$515
Twin Towns Social Runners & Walkers Club
Donation from the Twin Towns Runners & Walkers Club
$31.32
Anonymous
$83.52
Gavin Keith
Wishing you all the best Greg, good luck with the walk.
$31.32
Jill And Laurie Metcalfe
Dear Greg What you are doing is amazing, you are amazing. Jill and Laurie
$26.10
Helen Forbes
What an awesome effort Greg! Best wishes for the completion of your walk and beyond.
$31.32
Aneta
Go Greg 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
$55.33
Gerry
Great going Greg👏
$83.52
Ziska & Greg Ward
Good luck in your endeavors to raise money for this great cause and all the very best to you in the challenges that you may face. Talk soon.
$55.33
Mills
All our love xx
$31.32
Chrissy
So inspirational, stay strong
$250
Diana Traversi & Family
Best wishes from the Traversi family
$250
Diana Traversi
Hi Greg, Sorry for your diagnosis, which I was not aware of, and huge compliments for your walking on behalf of the Leukaemia Foundation. Every good wish and may the last Kms be the easiest!
$55.33
Stevens Family
Thanks for always inspiring us Dad. Love you xxxxx
$31.32
Nick Fweaz
$40
Les & Deb
Keep on walking.
$281.60
Anonymous
Awesome as always.
$55.33
Murray & Allyson Forbes
Amazing job Greg!
$30
Margot Ball
No doubt you’ll accomplish this goal. Love M&M
$20.88
Linda Brandt
Greg, sorry to hear this news Keep fighting the fight Always here for any support you may need.
$55.33
Debby Plumpton
From a fellow leukaemia foundation fund-raiser and Run Down Under participant (I've got less than 90kms to go, but have taken just over 4 years). Well done and wishing you all the best for the future.
$31.32
Kate Vandyke
I’m a blood cancer researcher at the University or Adelaide. I heard about your fundraiser and your virtual walk around Australia and I think it’s fantastic what you’re doing. Good luck with completing your goal!
$147.20
Brian Butler
$100
Glenda Ritchie
Just letting you know we support your journey. we are here for you Janet and the girls from Glenda, Jamie and our girls
$104.40
Lois/tony Kean
We trust you will let us know if we can help in anyway.
$83.52
Linda, Georgie And Ken
You are awesome, Greg! We are cheering for you.
$73.08
Kim Hopper
Go Greg
$55.33
Cathie
$55.33
Kendall
Well done mate; bugger of a thing to have, good luck with it all! 👍👍🙏
$31.32
Roslynne Aberhart
We are with you every step of your journey Greggles. You are amazing and besides that, a hell of a good bloke. 😘😘💖💖
$55
J B
The journey continues.
$55.33
David Wyatt
Really sorry to hear of your plight Greg. Huge effort running down under!
$41.76
Kath Judge
Seeing you out there always makes my morning!!
$31.32
Alison & Terry
Go Greg. Well done 👏
$208.80
Vandisi P/l
$31.32
Tracy Mo
A great inspiration to us all. Looking forward to cheering you over the finish line
$20.88
Sandra Reid
You are inspirational xx
$83.52
Emma Nicholson
Here to support you in both journeys, Greggles. Big hugs. xo
$20.88
David Mccullagh
Greg, you're absolutely AWE-INSPIRING!!! What you're doing is truly amazing and I wish you all the best in completing your walk and reaching your fundraising goal. Go you good thing!!!
$31.32
Elise Cameron
Greg I work at Leukaemia Foundation and heard about your challenge and goal of raising $25,000. You are an inspiration and part of the reason we all work so hard here at Leukaemia Foundation to ensure we support all Australians with blood cancer and ensure we reach our goal of zero lives lost to blood cancer by 2035! Thank you for your support. I will be cheering you on from the side lines as you complete your loop around Australia
