WHEN Network 10’s Brendan Smith and Epic Hair Design’s Brendan Mann initially created the ‘Epic Walk for DV’, little did they know that in just four years it would spread its wings from New Farm Park, in Brisbane, to the Coral Sea Marina Resort, in Airlie Beach.
“This year, we’re hoping to raise $300,000 for Women’s Legal Service Queensland (WLSQ) across our three walks in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and now the Whitsundays, and ultimately we hope that it becomes a regular fixture on the charity calendar here,” Brendan Smith said, while visiting the marina last week.
“The reason it’s so important that we’re bringing this walk to Airlie Beach is because WLSQ is a state-based service – everyone benefits from it and I think this will really allow people to open up those conversations,” he said.
Coral Sea Marina CEO Kate Purdie, who has become one of WLSQ’s flagship fundraising ‘Dancing CEOs’ for 2025, described the organisation as a lifesaving, life-changing support service for women and children escaping domestic violence.
“Through WLSQ, women are able to access free legal advice at a time when the complex world of court systems is the last thing they need to be dealing with but often the most critical in terms of keeping them safe and rebuilding their lives,” Ms Purdie said.
“Domestic and family violence is far too prevalent within our communities but here at the marina, we believe that this is a preventable problem we can face together as a community if we start by having the conversation, which is what this Epic Walk is about.”
Brendan Mann added that from a fundraising perspective, the walk’s outcomes were easy to measure.
“So far through the walk, we’ve raised $800,000 and there are a few good news stories to have come from that,” he said.
“In the second year, we were able to build WLSQ a new website and, last year, we solved the issue of a six-week wait for WLSQ’s financial abuse program by funding two additional lawyers, who could help with the sheer number of phone calls they had – so everything this walk does is extremely tangible, and that’s very important to us.”
WLSQ Ambassador Katelyn Aslett-Collins, who was instrumental in bringing the Epic Walk to the Whitsundays, said she believed the first year here could be just the beginning of a far greater legacy.
“Over the next few years, we hope that the Whitsundays will be repeatedly on the map when it comes to talking about this issue and raising funds for this amazing service,” she said.
“I am so proud that we are starting to build an amazing legacy and network here – and, most importantly, awareness that this service exists for our local women, who can access it simply by calling the Hotline.”
Signing up for the walk is as easy as visiting www.epicwalkfordv.com.au. People can choose to sign up as individuals or create their own fundraising teams.
The cost for adults is $24; kids walk free. The registration fee provides an event T-shirt to wear on the day and breakfast in the Coral Sea Marina Gardens.
On the day, participants can muster from as early as 6.30am for a 7.30am start.
The walk is 5kms consisting of the traditional ‘Park Run’ loops. All ages and levels of fitness are welcome.
For more information and online links, follow the Coral Sea Marina and ‘Team Whitsundays Dancing CEOs’ Facebook pages.
