A nurse, her son and a 540km walk to bring paediatric care to the bush
“How is a regular mum that doesn’t train and has one pair of joggers on the back deck going to do this?”
That was Sarah Langby’s first thought when her son, Dusty, suggested they embark on a 540km fundraising walk across Central West NSW.
But despite her nerves, the child and family health nurse is joining her son on the two-week trek to try and raise $1 million for Little Wings, a not-for-profit organisation that helps regional and remote children access paediatric care.
Walking from their home in Warren — a country town in the Central West region of NSW — to Parliament House in Canberra, Ms Langby says there was never any question she would join Dusty.
“Nurses, especially rural and remote nurses, are very determined people. I think even if my legs weren’t working, I would crawl there,” Ms Langby tells AusDoc.
Ms Langby works at the Warren Multipurpose Service — a 42-bed service providing acute, emergency and community healthcare — where she is also the branch president for the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association.
Twelve-year-old Dusty first presented the idea to his mum while they were swimming at the local dam one afternoon.
“I just had had a really overwhelming day, and [Dusty’s] such an old soul, so he could just pick up that energy.
“He actually sat there and said, ‘Why do you do this, Mum? I know you want to help people, but all it does is make you sad. What are you doing?'”
Dusty then asked what they could do to make a difference and suggested doing something for children, such as those Ms Langby cares for.
“I said, ‘Right, well, what are we going to do?’
“And he said, ‘Well, Little Wings helped us. Why can’t we get other kids to be helped by Little Wings?'”
The Langbys were introduced to Little Wings when the organisation helped them access a specialist child development service in Sydney for their youngest son, Angus, who has since been diagnosed with ADHD, autism and learning disabilities.
Little Wings also flies a paediatrician to communities, including Warren, for a monthly clinic as part of its Medical Wings project. Dusty hopes his fundraiser will enable the organisation to reach more children in more towns.
Dusty and Ms Langby will be joined on their walk by Little Wings CEO Clare Pearson, as well as fellow nurses Christine Letton and Nichole Callan, who have been involved in Little Wings’ Warren paediatric clinic.
Setting off from Warren on 30 August, the group plans to average around 40km a day to arrive in Canberra on 14 September. They have secured accommodation at every stop along the way with the help of local communities, Ms Langby says.
“The walk isn’t for another seven weeks and it’s already so big right now, and that’s because country people stick together and country people support each other.”
Dusty is hoping for an audience with the prime minister when he reaches Parliament House to ask the government to match whatever he has raised.
For now, the group is continuing their training with support from an exercise physiologist. They aim to walk around 8km every day, with one 30-40km walk each week.
Despite dealing with her fair share of blisters, Ms Langby says she is enjoying the walks.
“I’m connecting more than ever with my children; we’re talking about so many different conversations which we never would have done if I wasn’t doing these walks.
“I haven’t had to put a set of headphones in yet; they keep me very occupied.”
Being there for her “determined, sensitive” son is also motivation enough, she says.
“He’s just such a caring person, so it’s just so great for him, because now he’s caring for all the kids in the bush.”
More information: Dollar for Dusty campaign
