Hyde Park welcome for marathon horse trekkers

Member for Northern Tablelands Richard Torbay today welcomed anti-drugs crusader Cassie Newsome and her team of supporters as the Brisbane to Sydney ‘What About Life’ Charity Horse Trek reached the finish line at Hyde Park in central Sydney.
The 22-year-old from Glen Innes planned and undertook the trek to raise awareness among young people of the dangers of drug and alcohol use as well as raise money for the Ted Noffs Foundation.
Her inspiration came from the drug overdose death of her mother – Ms Newsome was just eight-years-old at the time.
Mr Torbay commended her efforts when he welcomed the group on their arrival in Sydney.
“What a mighty effort by everyone involved, it sounded impossible, but Cassie never doubted herself,” Mr Torbay said.
“Drugs and alcohol abuse take a terrible toll on communities everywhere, particularly among our younger people and this Charity Trek took a very important message directly to the young people with Cassie and her helpers speaking at more than 40 schools in the past six weeks.
“Cassie can be very proud of what she has done and I feel sure the What About Life Charity Horse Trek crew have delivered a message that will be remembered by everyone they met along the way. Most important of all, I’m sure that Cassie’s mum would be very proud of her daughter’s achievements.”
Matt Noffs of the Ted Noffs Foundation was also on hand to meet the horse trekkers who were escorted into Sydney by Mounted Police Officers from the NSW Police Force.
The trek left Brisbane on July 21 and riders followed the New England Highway into Newcastle before riding to Gosford and onto Sydney.
To find out more about the trek or to make an online donation visit the website at www.whataboutlife.org or phone the Ted Noffs Foundation on (02) 9310 0133.