On Friday March 5 and Saturday March 6, the inaugural Wild Women on Top Sydney Coastrek event took place. An initiative of Di Westaway from Wild Women on Top, Coastrek is an adventure fitness challenge, with participants trekking 50km or 100km and raising money for The Fred Hollows Foundation.

Incorporating some of Sydney's most scenic harbour tracks, beaches and headlands, the Wild Women on Top Sydney Coastrek is a world-class adventure fitness challenge for teams of four to six people.

In the early hours of March 5, a field of 220 keen trekkers strapped on torches, applied blister tape and filled water bottles for the trek from Palm Beach to Coogee. 

Managing Director of Wild Women on Top, Di Westaway, believes that Coastrek provides an event where people can test themselves physically and mentally - and at the same time contribute to a worthwhile cause.

"The Wild Women on Top Sydney Coastrek is about vision, and so is The Fred Hollows Foundation," says Westaway.

"We are supporting The Foundation because our mission is to provide challenging adventures in stunningly scenic locations, which is the perfect link with a charity that devotes itself to restoring sight."

"For as little as $25, you can help restore sight in a developing country. This is a whole lot easier than trekking 100 km."

To date, Coastrek has raised $200,000 towards restoring sight to the millions of people who remain blind simply because they cannot afford or do not have access to eye health services.

Coastrek 2010 was an inspiring and memorable event for many, as these testimonials confirm:

"Just wanted to say what a wonderful experience Coastrek was for me. It was the first time I have participated in something like that. I had to find a level of mental toughness I didn't know I had. I'll be rearing to go again next year!" - Judy

"Thank you for organising such a fantastic event. I have lost five kilograms training for this event and feel the fittest and healthiest I have felt for about 15 years!" - Kristianne

"I never would have dreamed I could walk so far and face up to aches and pains in such good spirit. Wild Women on Top (Coastrek) is truly life changing." - Julie 

"It was a magical day. We had so much fun. Congratulations for realising a dream and making it possible for so many people (to) make a difference in others' lives whilst having fun and keeping fit. It was a privilege to be a part of Coastrek." - Ange

Registrations for Coastrek March 2011 will open in September/October 2010.

The Fred Hollows Foundation would like to thank all Coastrek teams, support crew, volunteers and of course Di Westaway and her team at Wild Women on Top. Your generosity helps The Fred Hollows Foundation to keep Fred's dream alive.