The pair along with other family members Lisa Haines and Greg McCluand tackled the Coast Trek to raise $4500 for The Fred Hollows Foundation, enough to restore the eyesight of 180 people. 

The annual Coast Trek takes people from Palm Beach to Balmoral following the coastline and largely ignoring roads in favour of hiking paths, which makes it a challenge. 

The family team started walking at 6am and finished at 1am the next day.

“If I’d knew how tough it was before we started to walk, I wouldn’t have signed up,” Matt said.

“But, now that I’ve done it, I’d go again.

“It exceeded my expectations both in the beach views and how tough it was with the different terrain, especially sand, taking it out of you.” 

The Singleton pair’s preparation for the Coast Trek began in July with different combinations of walks around town, ranging between 10km and the longest distance 35km.

The fundraiser has grown massively since it first started in 2009 when only 40 people registered, to the point now where 3500 make the trek (in both directions). 

A total of $2.8m was raised from the event and donations are still being received.

You can donate to the cause at www.coastrek.com.au

Matt and Kim’s team is called the McCluand Clan and can be reached on the website.