Nathan Pentecost, the captain of the Penrith Panthers Wheelchair Rugby League team, is preparing to push himself 100 kilometres to raise funds for an inspirational youth leadership initiative.
Watch the video above to hear from Nathan, Panthers legend Mark Geyer and to learn more about the amazing cause.
The Panthers on the Prowl Kokoda Leadership Project gives a small number of local teenagers the opportunity to undertake a gruelling trek in the region of Papua New Guinea made famous by the courage and sacrifice of the ANZACs in World War Two.
Accompanied by community and business leaders, the Kokoda experience is truly life-changing for the young people who are selected to make the special journey.
In 2013 the project saw seven male high school students take to the track, accompanied by mentors including Panthers playmaker Jamie Soward and coach Ivan Cleary.
This year Panthers on the Prowl is hoping to take at least seven female students to Kokoda, with Australian Olympic champion Nova Peris OAM, Fiona Scott MP and Tanya Davies MP already signing on as mentors for the incredible journey.
On the 24th and 25th of July, Nathan will push his wheelchair 100 kilometres, roughly the distance of two and a half marathons, at the Sydney International Regatta Centre in Penrith.
Nathan hopes his phenomenal effort will raise $10,000 - enough to pay for two more students to join this year’s Kokoda trek.
"The amazing experience of the students two years ago proves how quickly this journey can dramatically change lives," he said.
"The Kokoda Leadership Project recognises how important it is to invest time and energy into our youth and to help create young leaders in the community."
The official Panther Push for Kokoda fundraising page can be found here: bit.ly/PantherPush.
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