Written by Max Reilly (Project Manager, Run for Wishes)
March 20, 2022

[Image ID - Sienna and Sean checking out the Wudjub-guyan/Hollow Mountain walk.]

Photos were taken on the traditional country of the Djab Wurrung and Jardwardjali, Gunditjamara, and Boon Wurrung and Gunai Kurnai people.

Hello!

Welcome to the first edition of the ‘Motorhome Moments’ blog series. My name is Max Reilly, and I am the ‘Project Manager’ for Sean Bell’s ‘Run for Wishes’. It is likely that you have stumbled across this by following Sean’s journey. If you are unfamiliar with the Run for Wishes project, in a nutshell, my friend Sean is running over 3,500 km from Cairns to Melbourne to raise funds for Make-A-Wish Australia.

I will give you a minute to comprehend that.

The intention of this series is to provide an added layer of behind-the-scenes content of this wild adventure from the perspective of the support crew. From mid-April, expect weekly instalments unpacking all the notable encounters and small moments from the experience with a set of photos.

Learning on the go

Deciding the right vehicle for this expedition has been challenging. What you see on social media of Sean’s training represents only a small fraction of the preparation he and his team have done for this trip. Unfortunately, risk management reports and council permits do not have the same social media appeal as his excruciating hill sprints.

In our first trial run last year, we learned that we were well out of our depth. Trailing a caravan with a 4WD was a constant struggle. We asked for help at every stop. Repeatedly, we were shown the warm kindness of strangers. It is amazing to see how quickly people will support another, especially when they are vulnerable.

[Image ID - The Big Drift at Yiruk/Wamoon/Wilson’s Prom. In the distance is a person in a red shirt amongst the wet sand formations.]

In February, we swapped the caravan for a motorhome. Immediately life felt easier. Living on the road for two months with a person on the verge of hospitable exhaustion will make time efficiency pivotal. The motorhome’s minimal setup will make a world of difference. Thank you to THL for the vehicle and their services. Their user-friendly tutorial app made our waste disposals slightly less comical.

[Image ID - Sean enjoying the hike up Wudjub-guyan/Hollow Mountain.]

Mixing work and play

The many reasons I have been drawn to supporting Sean on his run will be progressively unveiled over the course of this series.

I use my involvement in sport and health to give equal opportunities to communities in need. An aspiration of mine has been to mix this with travel and adventure.

The Run for Wishes project ticks all these boxes. In our trial runs alone we have already been able to see some of Australia’s most surreal landscapes.

[Image ID - People swimming at Little Blue Lake in Mount Gambier.]

It is the opportunity of a lifetime to travel with the purpose of supporting vulnerable families and sick children alongside your best mate. I am filled with gratitude to be able to play a part in this remarkable person’s journey.