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Former British champion middle distance runner Steve Ovett will be coming to PNG to walk the Kokoda Trail to help raise money for the Bloomhill Cancer Care Help Centre on the Sunshine Coast.
This world ? famous ex athlete whose titles include Olympic, World Cup, European and Commonwealth Games Gold Medals and five World Records at the mile, 1500m and 2 miles will be here for a challenge of a different kind.
It will not be for running the 800m or 1500m ? as he and fellow Brit archrival Sebastian Coe were so well know for in the 1970s and 1980s ? but to walk the rugged and grueling Kokoda Trail with four other mates to raise money for Bloomhill Cancer Help in Queensland.
The goal of Kokoda Spirit – Cancer Care is to do two things.
Firstly, it is to raise awareness of Bloomhill by sharing with the world information about this wonderful place and the special people who help there.
And secondly, it is to raise $200,000 for the Bloomhill Building Fund.
The trek and the team is entirely funded by the participants.
Their job is raise awareness and do the deed.
Los Angeles, 1984 :
Los500Angeles__1984.jpgThey hope that individuals and organisations will help by making a contribution to Bloomhill.
All money donated goes directly to Bloomhill!
CLICK HERE if you would like to make a donation to this great cause !
kokoda_logo.gifOvett, who holds MBE and OBE awards, moved to Queensland?s Sunshine coast with his family over a year ago.
The 48 ? year ? old sports consultant, journalist and television commentator has been sidelined from sport since being involved in a car accident while training, damaging both knees.
Los Angeles, 11 August 1984. Competitors on the track. Steven OVETT (GBR) and Sebastian COE (GBR),
Los_Angeles__50011_August_1.jpgOvett decided to take on the challenge of Kokoda after being asked to do so by good friend and trek leader, Richard Thompson, who is very ill with Multiple Myeloma.
Multiple Myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow for which there is no known cure.
Richard Thompson, Trek Leader :
Editors Update: Unfortunately Richard was not able to come to PNG as his cancer returned more aggressive than ever. He did however keep touch with his mates daily on the satellite phone and was with them all the way.
Sadly, Richard passed away on the 4th November, 2003 but left a legacy of having raised over $100,000 for the Bloomhill Cancer Care Help Centre he tried so hard to help. I have been informed by his brother John, that his American friend has offered funds to help complete his dream. Richard indeed touched us all.
Richard_2nd.jpgAccompanying Ovett and Thompson on the Kokoda Trail will be Geoff Campbell (whose father fought in PNG during WW11), nurse John Thompson, and professional photographer Ross Eason.
?I was originally asked by friend and trek leader Richard Thompson if I would like to do a walk with him after his most recent treatment,? Ovett said.
?I agreed far too quickly on the phone only then to look up Kokoda!
?I would love to see Bloomhill succeed in its aim to help more people in the community.?
Geoff Campbell :
Geoff_2nd_Pic.jpgMiddle distance runner Ovett gained some Olympic experience in 1976 when he ran in the final of the 800m and placed fifth.
By the time of the 1980 Olympics, he was considered the favourite at 1500m, while his British teammate, Sebastian Coe, was expected to win the 800.
The 800m final was run first.
Ovett, in only sixth place at the halfway mark, pushed his way through the crowd to second place.
Seventy metres from the finish, he shot into the lead and held off Coe to win by three metres.
Steve Ovett 2003 :
Steve_Ovett_2nd_pic.jpgIn the 1500m, contested six days later, it was Coe who came from behind to win, while Ovett took home the bronze medal.
Ovett attempted to defend his 800m title in 1984.
Battling bronchitis, he barely qualified for the final and then finished eighth, after which he collapsed and spent two nights in a hospital.
He returned to compete in the 1500m, in which he held the world record.
Running in fourth place at the beginning of the last lap of the final, Ovett collapsed with chest pains and was taken away on a stretcher.
Sebastian Seb Coe, in first place, Steve Cram, second, and Steve Ovett, third, in action during the mens 1500 metre :
Sebastian_Seb_Coe__400in_fi.jpgRichard Thompson, aged 44 and married with three children, in his early life was trained by IBM in Brisbane before moving to Singapore with the family as Vice President- Asia Pacific for a US Based software company.
?I was into my fourth year of this job when I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma,? he recalled.
? My wife and I flew back to Brisbane immediately to undergo further tests and treatment at the Wesley hospital.
?The children flew home soon after and our furniture followed 18 months later.
?The last seven years have been a fairly constant battle with the Myeloma and have included over 24 months of various rounds of chemotherapy and two stem cell transplants.
?I have been able to combine treatment regimes from the University of Arkansas with the care of the Wesley Medical Centre and Hospital.
?I came across Bloomhill when I was looking for a place where I could go and give something back to the cancer community.
?It has now become a large part of our lives as my wife Mani now works there as a registered nurse and I often give talks in the support group.?
Thompson laughed: ?The Kokoda trail walk is a result of too high a dose of steroids in my last chemo treatment!?
On a more serious note, he surmised: "Bloomhill has given me and my family tremendous support during the various bouts I have had with Myeloma. Now it's time to give something back."
The Kokoda Spirit – Cancer Care team consists of five people:
- Richard Thompson (Trek Leader) – now replaced by our very own http://www.pngbd.com journalist – Alison Anis due to Richard being admitted to hospital- Sept'03. Alison will wear Richard's T/Shirt and will keep a diary which will be typed up and send to Richard so he too can feel he was out on the trail.
- Steve Ovett – Former Olympic Gold Medalist and long distance UK champion
- Geoff Campbell
- John Thompson
- Ross Eason
Ovett and his group plan to fly in to PNG in September, fly on an Airlines of PNG charter to Kokoda, and trek for nine days to Owers?Corner.
Individuals and organizations who would like more details about Ovett?s Kokoda trek and Bloomhill can log on to http://www.bloomhill.com.au
Alternatively, log onto the Papua New Guinea Tourism & Business Directory
http://www.pngbd.com for further details.Ends
Steve Ovett in his heyday on July 26, 1980. Picture by George Herringshaw of sporting – heroes.net.
Steve_Ovett_in_his_heyday_5.jpghello – i saw the recent posts you did regarding steve ovett. my name is vique martin and i am an old friend of his family. my mother was steve and rachel's first born child's godmother. she died 8 years ago and i have since lost touch with them. i live in the USA, and wasn't good at keeping in touch for a while. i'd love to reach steve and was wondering if you or someone you know could pass this email on.
thanks so much,
vique martin
viquesimba@aol.comUpdate:
Steve Ovett OBE did successfully walk the Kokoda Trail from the 28th September to the 6th October, 2003 together with his three companions, Geoff Campbell, Ross Eason and John Thompson.
The people of Kokoda were honoured to have someone like Steve visit their town and employ them to guide them safely over the Kokoda Trail.
Today, 12th October, I have just come back from putting the main Guide Russell Eroro on the flight back to Kokoda. He said to let everyone know, that he would love to take other big names over the trail for an experience they will NEVER forget.
THE TOWN OF KOKODA WELCOMES STEVE OVETT AND HIS FRIENDS IN TRUE PNG FASHION – AN ORO PROVINCE SING SING. STEVE SAID IN HIS SPEECH THAT IN ALL THE COUNTRIES HE HAS VISITED, HE HAS NEVER BEEN WELCOMED AS HE WAS IN KOKODA, AND ALL THE TREKKERS INFORMED ME ON THEIR RETURN THAT THEY JUST LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT:
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