Even if Stacey Stewart had to crawl the last 100 metres, she was determined to finish the 35-kilometre walk she took on in support of her three-year-old cousin.
The Bacchus Marsh woman and 13 family members donned sneakers earlier this month to take part in The Bloody Long Walk for Aidan, who has mitochondrial disease.
The disease damages cells of the brain, heart, liver, skeletal muscles, kidney and respiratory systems.
The team, dubbed Aidan’s Engine, started at Yarra Bend Park and finished at Brighton Beach eight hours later.
“I saw the Walk on Facebook and asked if anyone was interested in doing it with me – I didn’t even know it was to raise funds for the disease Aidan had,” Ms Stewart said. “I’m not a fit person, but I was so pumped … I got there in a lot of pain, but I ran across the finish line.”
The family raised about $5500 for the Australian Mitochondrial Disease Foundation and is hoping a cure for the debilitating disease is imminent.
While Aidan’s mum, Fiona, couldn’t join the walk this year – she’s due to give birth next week – the family is looking forward to her joining their trek next year.
“Aidan’s parents were just over the moon,” Ms Stewart said.
“They were very happy and couldn’t stop thanking us for doing the walk.”
About 50 children are diagnosed with a severe and often life-threatening form of mito- chondrial disease each year in Australia, and it’s also now being diagnosed in adults.
Donations can still be made to bloodylongwalk.com.au
