2009 State Street Overcoming The Odds Award
Anyone who has participated in Oxfam TRAILWALKER - the annual team endurance event that raises millions of dollars for Oxfam Australia - knows the true meaning of the words "challenge" and "commitment".
For the sixth consecutive year, State Street, the principal sponsor of Oxfam TRAILWALKER, presented its "Overcoming the Odds" award. The award honours an individual who has overcome personal adversity to participate in this demanding but inspiring event. The winner receives a $500 cash prize and will have a $4,500 donation from the State Street Foundation made to an Oxfam program of their choice.
2009 Overcoming the Odds award winner, Kathy Long
State Street’s Chris Field with OTO 2009 Award Winner Kathy Long
Photo: Tim Herbert
The 2009 Overcoming the Odds award was presented to Kathy Long from Team 022 ‘It's only a flesh wound!'
Here is Kathy's story as told by one of her team mates:
A year ago Kathleen, a mother of 3 and grandmother of 2 came to us with the "crazy" notion of taking on Oxfam TRAILWALKER having worked as a volunteer the previous year.
Now, we count ourselves among Kathleen's closest friends but even we have to say she is known more for her wonderful sense of humour than for her love of outdoor exercise! Anyway, she presented the idea to us with so much enthusiasm that we signed on for the challenge. Kathleen said to us "I had a hysterectomy for my 40th birthday and breast cancer on my 50th birthday, so I'm determined to celebrate my 60th this year with a major achievement. As our team leader, she organised our training schedule, sending us neat Excel spreadsheet updates every now and then as we started walking every weekend.
For some time Kathleen had been experiencing problems with the peripheral vision in her left eye. She reluctantly arranged to take a week off from training for fairly routine surgery to fix a small tear in her retina. Following this she had to endure two torturous weeks lying flat on her face to give her eye the best chance to heal. Unfortunately, this operation was not a success and despite 3 subsequent attempts over the following weeks, all of which required major eye surgery, her retina detached leaving her permanently without sight in that eye. We were all devastated for her, as this was a major setback in a life which has already weathered many challenges. We all expected her to retire from the team but we underestimated her. Kathleen allowed herself to sink into depression for, oh, maybe half a day and then it was back to training with even more determination! (We just made sure there was always someone near to warn her about rocks, tree roots and precipices!). During training she struggled a bit on the hills, but often led the team "like a cow to the milking shed" on the flat.
All was going well until a few weeks later while on a training walk Kathleen experienced excruciating pain in the veins in one of her legs. Nothing she did provided any relief and on our return she again trundled off to the doctor. It was here she discovered that the pain she'd endured for 20km was actually due to a blood clot in her leg and she was given a prescription and ordered to stay totally off her feet. Once again, we braced ourselves for her seemingly inevitable withdrawal from the team, but no, 3 weeks later she received the all clear and was back into training with a vengeance. Through all these challenges she still took part in all our fundraising activities and team meetings. During the Trailwalker event we came across two walkers who had lost their entire teams along the way. Kathleen helped convince them to continue the walk with our team and they were able to cross the finish line with us at 3.41am on Sunday morning. It was so encouraging for them to see Kathleen totally focussed on completing the whole 100km. She had trained hard and simply never considered not finishing an option.
For Kathleen to complete Oxfam TRAILWALKER at 60 years of age after a hysterectomy, breast cancer, loss of sight in one eye and a blood clot is a triumph. We joke that she is like one of those toys that is made to bounce upright again every time you try and knock it over! With her endless enthusiasm, positive attitude and dogged determination she is an absolute inspiration to everyone around her.
In the coming weeks Kathy will choose which Oxfam Australia program will receive $4,500 funding from State Street as part of her award. We will post these details soon
