Even moments after triumphantly conquering 300kms and raising over $320,000 for dementia research, Royce Simmons was already looking ahead.
“If I'm in good enough shape next year, as far as the dementia goes, I'll be doing it again for sure,” he said.
This year, Simmons and the Royce Simmons Foundation crew undertook a 10 day walk from Penrith to Mudgee, covering over 400,000 steps to raise awareness of dementia and funds for medical research, in the hope of finding a cure.
He was welcomed by more than 30 supporters at Lawson park including family, friends, Penrith Panthers board members and the Mayor of Mudgee, Des Kennedy.
“It's just fantastic to see these people that are so close to me turn up,” Simmons said.
“My biggest problem is the stress I'm going to put on my family, and that worries me. That's why I do these walks - trying to find a cure for it and trying to help. There's a lot of brilliant young doctors out there trying to find a cure... I play just a small part in it.. I think we've paid for about four research programs now, or five. So, you know, [we’re] just hopefully looking for an answer.”
HELP ROYCE REACH HIS GOAL: Buy your virtual steps!
Simmons was joined on this year's journey by mates like Paul Gallen, Brad Fittler, Peter Mortimer and Daniel Mortimer.
Gallen, who is regarded as the greatest Cronulla Sharks player of all time, walked alongside Simmons for the first three days, even spending his 44th birthday trekking from Woodford to Blackheath.
“If I could use one word to describe Royce it’d be ‘legend’,” Gallen said.
“I still remember Roycey winning the grand final and scoring the try. So yeah, he's a legend. To be able to be involved with him throughout the Australian team in my time was a bit of a pinch-myself moment.”
“Royce, obviously, is suffering with dementia at the moment, but he's out there doing his best to help other people going forward. He is helping other people, [that] he's probably never going to meet in his life. I think that's an admirable thing to do and the more people can support it, the better.
"If I can sort of help Roycey raise the money for all this research and we can find some sort of help for people one day, then, yeah, that's what I'm here for.”
Although Simmons may have finished the Big Walk, he says he plans to continue his daily walks no later than this Wednesday.
Meanwhile, virtual steps can still be made until August 31st. To donate, or learn more please visit donate.roycesimmonsfoundation.com.au.
- By Abbie Simmons
