WELL, WHAT CAN I SAY BUT "AWWWWWWWW YEAH!!!!!! TARGET REACHED!!!!!!!!!" THANK YOU EVERYONE IN THE LIST BELOW FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATIONS. IT WILL REALLY HELP OUT PEOPLE WHO NEED IT. 

If this is the first time you have seen this page, welcome to my fundraising page for the Black Dog Institute. Very soon, as in 20 Oct 12 kind of soon, I'll be off to Peru to complete the Peru Challenge. This is a hike from Cusco to Machu Picchu (the lost city of the Incas). It's going to be both a physical and mental challenge as this terrain gets pretty high above sea level. 

I'm training and preparing for this trip whenever I can and as hard as I can (you can take a look at how my training is going by taking a look at the "Matt's Corporal Punishment" link at the bottom). Having said that, I need some help with raising money to donate to the Black Dog Institute. As you can see on the right, I've gone way past my fundraising target of $4,000. However, I'm in no mood for stopping. I'm aiming to raise $7,000 before I go.

Here's a quick overview of the journey:

Day 1 - Arrive in Cusco. Acclimatisation in the Andes.

Day 2 - Peru's Challenge School. More acclimatisation.

Day 3 - Cusco & Pisac. Final day of acclimatisation.

Day 4 - The 4 day trek through the Lares Valley begins. Finish up at Quishuarani. Total distance is 8km.

Day 5 - Now things get interesting. Quishuarani to Cuncani and finish up Huacahuasi. Total distance is 18km.

Day 6 - Huacahuasi to Patacancha. Total distance 15km.

Day 7 - Huilloc to Pumamarca and finish at Aguas Calientes. Today we get the prize - MACHU PICHU! Total distance 7km.

Day 8 - Machu Pichu to Cusco.

Day 9 - Recover in Cusco

Day 10 - Depart

Day 11 - Transit

Day 12 - Back home.

Here's the more important part - this event aims to raise funds for an organisation called the Black Dog Institute. The name ‘Black Dog’ is a term that Sir Winston Churchill, the former wartime British Prime Minister used to describe his own depression. Each year, Black Dog Institute aims to advance the understanding, diagnosis and management of Depression and Bipolar Disorder and improve the lives of those affected by these mood disorders. Since its establishment in 2002, the Institute has been able to mount one of the most significant research efforts in psychiatry in Australia. Check out the link in the "Black Dog Institute" link below to find out more about these guys.

Any support you can provide (particularly if you click on "Donate Now" link at the top of this page) is greatly appreciated. Even by sharing this page within your social network would be a massive help. In fact, by donating or shairng the link, you could win yourself some genuine Peruvian handcrafts. Check out the "Matt's Corporal Punishment" link below to find out more.

Regards,

Matt Pratten

MATT'S CORPORAL PUNISHMENT

Want to have an impact on my preparation? Take a look here: https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/groups/317008385048293/

Remember, donations to my fundraising goal are needed to make Matt's Corporal Punishment happen!