Ryan Murphy (OX 2001), Peter Lynch (OX 1997) and their friend Steve Surdoski have been keen to hike Kokoda for decades for both the personal challenge and to pay our respects to the suffering and bravery of the veterans who served there - one of whom was Ryan's great uncle.

We have decided to use the adventure as a springboard to raise some money for a local cause to improve child health in PNG. The trip is entirely self-funded and takes place 10 - 20 October 2025. Every dollar raised will be paid directly to ChildFund Australia and allocated to a fund used specifically for improving child health in PNG. In rural areas like Rigo Coast, PNG, a child's health is shaped by isolation, poor infrastructure, and limited healthcare access.

Children under five face some of the highest rates of preventable illness and death in the Asia-Pacific due to inadequate access to medical care, clean water, and early diagnosis. A child with symptoms of pneumonia, diarrhoea, or malaria may need to travel hours to reach a health post—often understaffed and lacking basic supplies. These delays in care are frequently fatal. ChildFund Health Outreach Services program intervenes at multiple pressure points in the local child health system—closing critical gaps through outreach, workforce development, and localised education.

Key Interventions:

1. Mobile Outreach for Remote Access - Quarterly mobile health clinics reach children who would otherwise go without care, delivering:

• Early diagnosis and treatment of common illnesses • Nutrition assessments and micronutrient support

• On-site immunisations catch-ups and record updates • Referral support for cases requiring higher care 2. Strengthening Frontline Response Capacity - Primary healthcare workers and Village Health Assistants are trained and resourced to:

• Identify early warning signs of undernutrition, infection, and delayed development • Provide health education to caregivers on hygiene, safe feeding, and home-based care • Act as a first line of defence, reducing pressure on distant clinics

3. Health Education that Builds Demand and Behaviour Change - Community sessions equip caregivers with the knowledge to act early:

• Recognising fevers, diarrhoea, and respiratory symptoms as medical issues—not normal childhood

• Understanding the importance of clean water and handwashing

• Reinforcing the value of consistent health checks for young children What Success Looks Like in PNG:

• Reduced under-five mortality through timely outreach and referral • Improved child growth indicators through early nutrition intervention

• Fewer preventable illnesses through behaviour change and hygiene awareness

Why a $5,000 fundraising target?

We are glad you asked.

A $5,000 donation can unlock a total project value of $17,100 or a 3.4x return.

How it works:

• Philanthropic Contribution $5,000 being our donation through the Healthy Futures Fund (on the condition we get to that number)

• DFAT Match (Australian Government) $4,500 90% co-investment via ANCP

• Institutional Grant Leverage $7,600 80% leverage on combined philanthropic + DFAT funding Total Project Value $17,100 Direct investment in measurable PNG child health outcomes.

If you've made it to the bottom of this story, we love your work. As you can see this is a very worthwhile cause which is very relevant to our adventure where we will be hiking through remote communities that rely on this very health outreach service... so come on - dig deep!! 

 https://gofund.me/06203b5b

Wish us luck!

Pete & Ryan & Steve