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After completing a staggering 30km on the last day of competition, a Southern Cross Care (NSW & ACT) aged care resident has taken out The Everest 2025 Challenge.
Beating more than 1600 participants from across the country, retired pallet maker Chris Guinea exclaimed “I’m a superstar” as he crossed for his final lap, completing a gruelling 419.4kms.
Walking an average of 15kms a day during the four-week challenge, Chris dug deep on the last day to double that number … with his overall total the equivalent of walking to the Mt Everest summit five times.
The 67-year-old resident of St. Joseph’s Residential Care in Tweed Heads grinned from ear-to-ear as he crossed the finishing line cheered on by his Northern Rivers community.
“I’m a superstar,” he beamed.
“I got up early so I could double the number of laps I’ve been doing so I could finish on a good note.
“Not only do I feel fitter and stronger after doing it, but I’ve lost a fair amount of weight.
“I’m so proud of myself, I feel like a superhero.”
Chris started doing 30 to 40 daily laps of the home’s 300m circuit – which saw him wear out the bearings of his walker.
Once it was repaired, he increased his mileage to 60 laps and never looked back.
The Everest 2025 Challenge, organised by Guide Healthcare, has been running throughout March across Australia as a fun and engaging way to get staff and residents moving.
Around 770 residents and 500 Southern Cross Care (NSW & ACT) staff took part in the event delivered through its Wellness Program to support, challenge and enhance the residents’ psychological, social, emotional, physical, spiritual and cultural wellbeing.
Recording their steps with the goal of travelling 85km in 26 days – the distance from Lukla in Nepal to the Mt Everest summit – participants were able to follow their progress on a live interactive map.
Southern Cross Care (NSW & ACT) Head of Safety, Wellbeing and Allied Health, Heidi McCowan, said The Everest 2025 Challenge was a fun and engaging way to encourage residents and staff to exercise.
“The energy and enthusiasm shown by the residents alone is truly inspiring,” she said.
“It’s really important for physical and mental health that residents and staff alike stay active, and events like The 2025 Everest Challenge – alongside others such as the
London Marathon and the Powerlympics – are an important component of our Wellness Program.
“They’re also a great way to foster a sense of community, motivation, teamwork and enablement – not to mention some healthy competition!
“Seeing everyone come together to support and encourage each other has been fantastic.”
General Manager and Physiotherapist at Guide Healthcare Matthew Reinbott said everybody was thrilled with how The Everest cross site event had gone.
“Success in an event like this means more residents are socially engaging, moving, and generally being positively impacted, which we are seeing on a level we have never seen before,” he said.
“To know more and more residents are being active, when they might not have been, truly makes us smile from ear to ear.
“And to hear stories like residents walking in the underground carpark during Cyclone Alfred tells us how much of a positive impact an event like this has on their lives.”
