Faith Students Rise to the Kokoda Challenge

On Saturday, Faith Christian School proudly had two teams compete in the Gold Coast Kokoda Challenge, embracing one of Australia's toughest endurance events while demonstrating resilience, teamwork and faith.

The day began with the Ode, the Last Post and a minute's silence, providing a moving reminder of the sacrifices made by the Kokoda soldiers. It was a powerful way to begin the challenge, encouraging everyone to reflect on the courage, endurance, selflessness and mateship that the Kokoda spirit represents.

Our 48km team, Fuelled by Faith, Abigail Verner, Michael de Sousa, Samuel Kirchmer, Julia Grunzu and Linda Balu, completed the course together in 12 hours and 47 minutes. Our 30km team, Endurance by Faith, Harry Cromwell, Henrik Schoenemann, Hamilton Hunt, Hayley Cromwell and Challise Curgenven, crossed the finish line together in an outstanding 7 hours and 25 minutes.

The course tested every participant with countless steep climbs, rugged terrain and many hours of walking through both daylight and darkness. Along the way, there were blisters, sore muscles and injuries to push through, but despite the challenges, both teams remained united and crossed their respective finish lines together with smiles on their faces.

What stood out most was the way our students and staff embodied Christ-like character throughout the event. They continually encouraged one another, prayed together, laughed together, and showed compassion when others were struggling and demonstrated perseverance in the face of adversity. It was a wonderful example of our school community living out our faith through service, encouragement and unwavering support for one another.

We are incredibly proud of every member of both teams for the way they represented Faith Christian School with courage, humility and determination. Their achievements were not only measured by the finish line, but by the character they displayed every step of the journey.

We invite you to read reflections from Harry Cromwell and Michael de Sousa, where they share their personal experiences of this memorable event.

"The Kokoda Challenge was a really good experience for me. Since it was my first year doing it, it was pretty cool to do it with my mum (Hayley) because we were both trying something new. I really enjoyed pushing myself and seeing what our team could achieve together.

The challenge taught me how important teamwork is. Huge thanks to Hamilton, Henrik, mum, and our honorary Faith member, Challise, for helping and keeping everyone motivated. Our team worked really well together, and we're all really happy with the time we got. We crossed the finish line at 7hrs and 25mins.

I'd definitely do it again next year and would recommend it to anyone thinking about giving it a go. Lastly, thanks to Faith Christian School for supporting us, especially Ross, Zara, and all the teachers who helped make it happen."

- Harry Cromwell
 

"Completing the 48km Kokoda Challenge on the Gold Coast was an experience that will stick with me for the rest of my life. It was truly a sensational feeling to cross that finish line after more than 12 hours of tough trekking over unforgiving terrain, including countless steep ascents and descents throughout the course.

For me, the Kokoda Challenge was more than just a workout. It was a physical and mental test that demanded courage, endurance, and mateship. Throughout the journey, I felt reassured knowing Jesus was with us every step of the way, giving us strength when the hills felt endless and reminding us to persevere with purpose.

I was incredibly appreciative of the entire Fuelled by Faith team, where words of encouragement, jokes, and even a music speaker helped us all persist through the hardest sections of the course. I'm extremely grateful for all the kind people who were a part of the team, from the organisers to the support crew and team members themselves. Everyone kept a positive attitude throughout, and I was genuinely impressed by the dedicated time, effort, and resources the support crew dedicated to preparing our much-needed dinner.

Overall, the team gave their absolute best and completed the challenge with pride. This experience was also an important reminder of the sacrifice and devotion shown by Australian veterans. This was truly unforgettable, and I hope more students consider taking on the Kokoda Challenge in the future."

- Michael de Sousa