The Townsville Hike and Explore 100km Charity Hike will return in June 2026, with organisers aiming to build on last year’s fundraising effort for the Cowboys Community Foundation and NRL Cowboys House.
Scheduled across 27 and 28 June, the event will see a team of hikers tackle more than 100 kilometres of rugged terrain through parts of North Queensland, beginning at Raspberry Falls in Girringun National Park and finishing near Rollingstone after an overnight trek.
The challenge raised $12,500 in 2025 and organisers say this year’s event is expected to draw broader community support as the initiative grows in profile.
The 2026 hiking team includes Michael Pugh, Wes Graffin, Sean Dromey, Arika Appleby and Anne Camplin, each bringing backgrounds in endurance events, community work and volunteering.
Mr Pugh, founder of Townsville Hike and Explore, said the route planned for 2026 would test participants both physically and mentally.
“This is shaping up to be our biggest, toughest and most rewarding event yet,” he said.
“We’ve brought together a group with different experiences and strengths, but everyone is committed to the same goal, which is supporting the Cowboys Community Foundation and Cowboys House.”
The hike will move through sections of Lannercost State Forest, Hidden Valley and Paluma Village before participants take on the demanding PRB Track, including overnight navigation across remote sections of the course.
Support crews and local businesses are expected to play a key role throughout the weekend. Hidden Valley Cabins will provide meals and accommodation at the halfway point before hikers continue the second stage of the journey.
Cowboys Community Foundation chief executive Fiona Pelling said the event had become an important fundraiser for programs supporting young people and families across North Queensland.
“Events like this help raise awareness and directly support the work we do through the Foundation and NRL Cowboys House,” she said.
“Every kilometre walked contributes to opportunities for young people across the region.”
Several members of the hiking team said the event’s appeal extended beyond the physical challenge.
Volunteer North Queensland president Anne Camplin described the hike as the biggest challenge she had taken on, while endurance hiker Wes Graffin said previous charity hikes had pushed participants to their limits both physically and mentally.
Marathon runner Arika Appleby said she hoped the event would encourage people to step outside their comfort zones while supporting a cause connected to young people in regional communities.
“This walk is for them,” she said.
“It’s purposeful, and if it inspires even one person to back themselves and try something bigger, that matters.”
Organisers are encouraging public donations ahead of the event, with proceeds going to the Cowboys Community Foundation and NRL Cowboys House programs.
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