Four
Suncorp employees have raised over $50,000 for an Australian charity as part of a 10-day desert trek.
Terry Phillis, business insurance specialist, Scott Younes, CTP contact centre manager, Daniel Wilkinson, executive portfolio manager, Qld CTP with Suncorp Commercial Insurance and Paul Lawton, executive portfolio manager, ACT CTP with Suncorp Commercial Insurance, have recently completed the 300km Simpson Desert Challenge for Youngcare.
The charity supports young people living in aged-care facilities and the remoteness of the desert trek gave the four team-mates a chance to experience the isolation that these young people are subjected to.
“It was extremely tough – both physically and mentally,” said Wilkinson.
“The trek is deliberately designed to be an uncomfortable and isolating experience, so we can get some sense of what life is like for young Australians with disability who are forced to live in aged-care homes.
“There was very little choice. I found that not having the freedom to make everyday decisions really wore me down,” Wilkinson continued.
Through its GIO and Suncorp brands, the company is a founding partner of Youngcare and has provided much needed support for almost a decade.
More sponsored events over the coming months will see the company try to raise $250,000 for the charity.
“Hearing about how people’s lives have been transformed when they were supported to move out of an aged-care home was really quite inspirational,” Lawton said.
“Having a clear understanding of why we were there provided the motivation we needed to get through to the end.
“It was one of the toughest experiences I’ve had – and one of the most rewarding.”
