IF you want to know what determination looks like, spend some time with Lauren Crocker.
The passionate local led the charge to raise $20,001 for the Kokoda Youth Foundation, topping 1841 teams to win a trip walking the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea this year.
Lauren fundraised while training for and completing the 96km Kokoda Challenge, widely known as Australia’s toughest team endurance event, as part of team Avengers Initiative.
Lauren’s passion for the Kokoda Youth Foundation dates back to when she participated in their program 12 years ago.
As a 16-year-old ‘Kokoda Kid in 2013, she attempted the 96km Kokoda Challenge in the Gold Coast hinterland and walked the Kokoda Track in PNG.
In 2024 she made a comeback to complete the full 96km with her mum Cathy Hanser as one of her teammates.
They crossed the finish line in 32 hours and 11 minutes despite Lauren breaking three toes before the event and managing potentially life-threatening complications from her type 1 diabetes on the track.
Lauren applied that same grit to fundraising for the Kokoda Youth Foundation, setting her sights on the first prize PNG trip early on and doing everything in her power to get there.
She and her team sold about 32,000 sausages at barbecues, forging ahead even when Lauren had to make an emergency trip to England and joined the barbecues via Facetime.
She pounded the pavements in Beaudesert CBD selling tickets to number raffles she made out of scrap paper and raffling off homemade hampers to help reach the goal.
The Foundation thanked the team in a Facebook post announcing the winners.
“We are beyond grateful for their incredible effort in raising $20,001 this year. Their dedication, passion and generosity in raising this money is inspiring and will help make a difference in many lives,” they wrote.
As well as gearing up for the PNG trip, from March 29 to April 8, Lauren has signed up to do the 48km Sunshine Coast Kokoda Challenge with her cat, Jasper, as part of her support crew.
To donate to Lauren’s 2025 fundraising efforts, visit https://www.kokodachallenge.com/fundraisers/AvengersInitiative
