Twelve-year-old Dusty Langby has completed a gruelling 500-kilometre, 16-day walk from Warren in western NSW to Canberra, raising more than $423,000 to help seriously ill children and families in regional Australia.
Dusty arrived in Canberra after beginning the journey on August 30, accompanied by his mother Sarah, local nurse Christine Letton, Little Wings nurse Nichole Callan and charity chief executive Clare Pearson.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged to match Dusty’s fundraising dollar for dollar, supporting Little Wings, which provides free flights for seriously ill children and those requiring specialist medical care across regional NSW, the ACT and Queensland.
“Dusty has walked over 500km to Canberra raising funds for sick children and their families,” Albanese said.
“At just 12 years old, it’s a massive achievement for an even bigger cause.”
Dusty has personal experience with the charity, having travelled with his brother from Warren to Sydney on Little Wings flights for specialist medical appointments.
“It’s just such an amazing cause,” Dusty said, adding that he wanted more children in regional communities to be able to access the service.
As he approached Canberra, Dusty said seeing Australian flags flying above Parliament House was an emotional moment for his walking group.
“We all nearly started crying because we knew we were nearly there,” he told 666 Canberra.
Dusty had hoped to ask Albanese to match every dollar he raised during their meeting. His campaign has now raised $423,000, which he said would “change heaps of rural family’s lives” and help more children access specialist care.
After completing the 16-day journey, Dusty said he was feeling “really good” and had avoided blisters despite the enormous distance.
Albanese said the funding would help ensure that Australians living outside major cities can access the healthcare they need.
“Making sure no matter where they live, every Australian can get the healthcare they need,” the Prime Minister said.
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