Luke Howarth (Petrie, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Two weekends ago, I participated in a 100-kilometre Walk for Kids event. This event encourages people to walk 100 kilometres over two days to raise money for the Neonatal Critical Care Unit at Queensland's Mater Hospital. In Australia, around 2,000 newborn babies a year need a surgical procedure. Some of these babies are very unstable, and moving them from the critical unit to theatre requires a large amount of support and technical equipment. Walk for Kids raises money for the purchase of this vital technical equipment.

In my electorate, Walk for Kids has been an annual event for five years now. I would like to thank North Lakes businessman, Matt Roue, who was one of the original organisers, and Daisy Bolton, who helped Matt organise this year's event. Thanks also to Bowmaker Realty and Breaking Point Fitness—two businesses that have sponsored this event since it began. I would also like to acknowledge my state colleague the member for Murrumba, Reg Gulley, who is still getting over his blisters. And thanks also to the local Rotary Club for providing us with sustenance—a dinner, a BBQ breakfast and snacks throughout the walk. Finally, thank you to all the walkers—100 kilometres is an awfully long way to walk. You did a magnificent job doing that and raising more than $20,000.