Coastrek Margaret River takes in Cape Naturaliste for second year to raise funds for Heart Foundation

This year’s second Margaret River Coastrek kicks off this weekend with a new course and even more participants than its inaugural run across the Capes region last year. Competitors will undertake a gruelling 35km course from Yallingup Beach to the Dunsborough town centre this year, with a shorter 20km course also on offer starting at the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse. About 1500 challengers were expected to be involved overall, organisers said. As well as getting out into nature, Coastrek offers a platform for fundraising. The 2022 event raised more than $250,000 for mental health charity Beyond Blue and in 2023 it will support Australia’s Heart Foundation. Margaret River mothers Hana Matthews, Daniela Walsh and Sheridan Kelly were part of a team named Lost in the Woods, with members relating deeply personal reasons for supporting the charity event. “The Heart Foundation is very personal for us all as we each have had close family affected by some form of heart disease,” spokeswoman Ms Kelly said. “We value the Heart Foundation’s commitment to life-changing research and providing programs that help facilitate a healthy heart future for us all. “We have reached out to family and friends to spread the word on the importance of the Heart Foundation and were fortunate enough to have the generosity from them to hit our fundraising target of $2000.” Another team dubbed Heart and Soles were also undertaking the event, with team leader Blair Pierson, also from Margaret River, saying his father’s death from heart disease was a big motivator. “The Heart Foundation is a super worthy cause,” he said. “My dad died of heart disease. He was only 59. His dad died of heart disease too. “The reality is that heart disease is, and has been, a leading cause of death for a long time. “Making donations to the Heart Foundation or supporting people that fundraise is a great way for anyone to contribute.” Ms Kelly said her group formed through connections forged at their children’s school. “One day, we got chatting about the Coastrek,” she said. “To us, we all see Coastrek having a double benefit: the first raising money for a wonderful charity, and the second, a great incentive to get fit. “We also feel it is important to model to our children the benefits of a healthy active lifestyle as well as sharing quality time with friends.” Coastrek founder Di Westaway said trekkers were given a 12-week training program to help prepare for what was “arguably the most challenging of Coastrek’s five events around Australia”. “We had a fantastic turn out for Coastrek Margaret River last year and can’t wait to take trekkers to another spectacular section of the Cape-to-Cape this year,” she said. “It’s a stunning coastline and a huge drawcard, attracting trekkers from the local area and from across WA as well as interstate who want to combine a fitness challenge with exploring one of the most beautiful coastlines in Australia.” Trek highlights included the Three Bears surf break, Sugar Loaf Rock, Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse, Bunker Bay, Meelup Beach and Dunsborough.