Adventure Treks » The Mark Hughes Foundation

2023 Ladies Trek Mt Maria Summit

To raise just shy of $300,000 on the inaugural ladies trek is incredible and testament to the calibre of ladies and our awesome supporters.

Kirralee Hughes sat down to write about what was a very special seven days in Tasmania.

After several years of watching from afar and hearing Mark speak about all of the amazing destinations and special moments that had happened on the previous 6 MHF treks, I decided it was time to launch an all female MHF ladies trek. For so many reasons the timing was never right in the past, but whatever forces brought this group of remarkable women together to trek to Tasmania in March and raise money for MHF I will be forever grateful. It was such an amazing experience and I know I speak on behalf of the 19 other ladies as well.

Everyone on this trip put their hands up to help us change the shocking statistics about brain cancer through raising awareness and fundraising for greater research into brain cancer. For many, including myself there was a very personal connection for making this journey:

We all climbed mountains way bigger than we expected, shared personal stories of triumph and tragedy but there was one more thing to tick off the itinerary before we headed home... Read Kirralee's full recap of their incredible adventure here.

2022 Top End Trek

After waiting so long to strap on their boots our trekkers finally set off, riding, hiking and paddling over 500kms through the vastness and beauty of Kakadu, Katherine Gorge, Jatbula and Litchfield National Parks.

Through the gruelling conditions there were some highlights such swimming at Edith Falls, getting up close and personal with the big crocs and learning about country and indigenous culture on Arnhem Land.

These men will be bonded forever by this unforgettable experience that has led them to an incredible result of raising over $500,000. These funds will ensure that our Care Coordinators can continue their amazing work assisting patients and their families on their brain cancer journey.

2019 Mount Kilimanjaro

In October 2019 20 trekkers took on the mighty challenge of climbing to the top of the highest free standing mountain in the world, Mount Klimanjaro situated in Tanzania and standing at 5898 metres.

Together they raised $695,579 which includes our Foundation Partner and Major Sponsor of this trek The MAN Shake $100,00 donation, local legend from Glen Innes Charlie Sutton's $100,000 donation and a $50,000 donation from a fundraiser for GBM patient Trudy Bell.

2018 Borneo Coast to Coast

October 2018 36 adventurers with determine spirt headed off to Borneo. They rode, paddled and trekked through some of Sabah's thickest jungle and followed in the footsteps of Australia's bravest POW's conquering the Sandakan Death March!

The trekkers tremendous effort helped raise $350,000 for brain cancer patient care.

2017 Everest Base Camp

October 2017 saw 10 Former Newcastle Knights players, along with 19 others in the group reach the pinnacle of Everest Base Camp, after 9 days of trekking through amazing scenery.

It was the 20th anniversary of the Newcastle Knights 1997 premiership victory, and the 14 day journey was just one of the ways the milestone was being celebrated amongst the team mates.

Major sponsors The Man Shake and nib both contributed substantially to the total $500,000 raised!

2016 Kokoda Coast to Coast

Spawned by a Christmas Day text message from Billy Peden to another Knights legend in Paul Harragon, the pair drummed up the idea of raising $50,000 for The Mark Hughes Foundation from the arduous journey through the World War II battlegrounds.

"I said, 'it's got to be hard because there's no point asking people to sponsor something if it's going to be a walk in the park'," Peden said. "That's where he came up with the Coast to Coast."

So a select group of 17 set off to Kokoda in June 2016 and retuned to an amazing $150,000 rasied!