Charity Runner In For Long Hard Slog

Illawarra Mercury

Monday June 19, 2006

By DUNCAN ABEY

LIKE many fellow Tasmanians seeking respite from the winter chill, Burnie's Vlastik Skvaril packed his bags last month and headed for the Queensland coast.

But sun, surf and sand have been the furthest things from the retired cheesemaker's mind as he pounds his way to the sunshine state on foot, all in an effort to raise money for children's cancer charity Camp Quality.

Yesterday's run through the Illawarra marked the quarter-way point of 66-year-old Mr Skvaril's 100-day odyssey, which will take in some of the busiest highways in Australia.

"I'm still feeling very good," Mr Skvaril said, during one of his two-hourly breathers

"But I had no idea it would be so hilly on the mainland.

"Between Lakes Entrance and Cann River in Victoria, we had 145km of hill after hill. I just had to laugh."

Surviving on Nutri-Grain, sandwiches, peanuts and soup his wife Jo prepares in the team campervan, Mr Skvaril plans on reaching his tropical destination on August 28 after an epic 5500km journey.

Along the way he has been inspired by the generosity of the general public, some of whom have had their lives touched by children with cancer.

"A Victorian couple ran with me for about 20km," Mr Skvaril said.

"They left me a card, which contained a donation for $500 and a note about their son who died of cancer in 1995. That has been the highlight of my trip so far."

Donations can be made by going to campquality.org.au

© 2006 Illawarra Mercury

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