What is Long Walk Home?
Long Walk Home is Wayside Chapel's signature fundraising event, where we invite people to walk 28km in the shoes of someone sleeping rough on our streets.
In an average week, a person experiencing homelessness walks a distance of 28km, walking from service to service, to their next shelter or a safe place to sleep.
By joining the Long Walk Home, you can show people living on Sydney's streets or in crisis they're loved and not forgotten, and ensure Wayside Chapel can continue to deliver wrap-around care and support to the most vulnerable people in our community.
There are two ways you can join us for Long Walk Home 2023. You can take on the 1-Day 28km Walking Event from Parramatta to Kings Cross on Saturday October 7th OR the 7-Day 28km Virtual Challenge over Saturday 7th - Friday 13th October on a path of your choosing, anywhere and anytime.
Thank you to our 2023 sponsors Morgans.
How does it work?
- Join us in person on Saturday 7th October for our Parramatta to Kings Cross 1-Day 28km Walking Event, OR take on the 7-Day Virtual Challenge from Saturday 7th - Friday 13th October.
- Choose to walk solo or create a team with family, friends or colleagues.
- Set a fundraising goal and reach out to your friends and family to ask them to support you as you walk 28km in the shoes of someone sleeping rough on our streets.
- You'll receive prizes and incentives as you hit fundraising milestones along the way.
- Feel good, get fit, and know you're making a difference for people experiencing homelessness or social isolation!
Why 28km?
In an average week, a person sleeping rough walks a distance of 28km from service to service, or a safe place to sleep. This is the reality for some of the 122,494* people who are sleeping rough in Australia.
That's why Wayside is inviting YOU to put yourself in the shoes of someone experiencing homelessness by walking the same distance. You can stand in solidarity with the most vulnerable people in our community and make a difference in the lives of people living on our streets.
*ABS Census 2021
How many people can you have in a team?
Good news! You can have as many team mates as you can sign up. Your team can be made up of people participating in the 1-Day 28km Walking Event and the 7-Day Virtual Challenge!
How do I join a team?
To join a team, select the Team option in the first stage of the registration process. If you have created an individual profile but later want to join a team, you can simply search for a team name or team member on this page and choose to join their team.
How much money do I need to raise?
Every dollar you raise makes an impact for people experiencing homelessness or in social isolation, so set yourself an ambitious fundraising goal.
We encourage each participant to try their best to raise at least $360, which can provide vital essentials to 12 vulnerable people in our community.
How do I fundraise?
Once you complete setting up your page, you will have a unique URL that directs back to your fundraising page. You can copy this link and share your page via text message, email, Facebook and your other social media channels.
Once you’ve signed up, go to the ‘Get Support’ section of your dashboard for pre-written emails and posts that can help you raise money.
You can also access our free ‘Resources’ to help spread the word!
Where do the funds go that I raise?
All funds you raise will help ensure Wayside Chapel can continue to offer unconditional love, wrap-around care and support to people experiencing homelessness and in crisis.
You'll be helping provide basic necessities like hot meals, warm showers and clothing. You'll ensure people living on our streets can access healthcare, housing, legal support and specialised services via our dedicated Women's Program and Aboriginal Cultural Centre.
And perhaps most importantly, you'll be choosing love over hate and helping to create community with no 'us and them'.
Are donations tax deductable?
Yes, donations of $2 or more to Wayside Chapel are tax-deductible in Australia.
What if I can't fundraise?
We encourage all individual participants and teams to try their best to raise at least $360, which can provide vital essentials to 12 vulnerable people in our community. If you don't reach your fundraising goal, we would still love for you to be part of Long Walk Home and our community.
What if I signed up for the 1-Day 28km Walking Event and it gets impacted or cancelled?
We will be doing everything possible to ensure the 28km walk from Parramatta to Kings Cross goes ahead in 2023 - after a string of unfortunate cancellations with Covid and severe wet weather in 2022.
In the unlikely event that the 1-day 28km Walking Event is cancelled, if you paid the entry fee for the physical event you will have two options:
- You may request that Wayside Chapel refunds your entry fee – please email longwalkhome@thewaysidechapel.com if you would like to take this option.
OR
- You can donate your entry fee to Wayside Chapel to help provide love, support and services for those experiencing homelessness. You don’t need to do anything if you choose this option.
Your entry will automatically switch to the ‘virtual event’, so you will still experience the Long Walk Home encouragement, support and community connection of walking 28km in the shoes of those experiencing homelessness.
Please note, no charitable donations made to your fundraising page are refundable.
Where do I go if I need more help?
Email us at longwalkhome@thewaysidechapel.com. We’re also available on our social media channels. Get in touch!
How much does it cost to register?
1-day 28km Walking Event (Saturday, 7th October) Pricing
General Pricing: $70
Pricing includes a high-vis vest and bib that are mandatory to wear on the day for safety reasons. These will be provided to you at the start line when you arrive.
7-day Virtual Challenge Pricing
Registration for the Virtual Challenge is completely free.
When do registrations close?
Registrations for the 1-day 28km Walking Event closed on Sunday, 1st October.
You can register for the 7-day Virtual Challenge up until Friday, 13th October.
When and where does the 1-day 28km Walking Event start and finish?
The 1-day 28km Walking Event is on Saturday, 7 October 2023. The Start Venue will be open from 1:00PM, with the walk starting at 2:00PM. Please aim to arrive from 1:00PM so you can collect your Bib & your Hi-Vis Vest, fill your water bottle, listen to the welcome and housekeeping, speeches and meet fellow walkers.
The Start Line opens at 2:00PM and closes at 2:30PM. Given council permits, any participants who arrive after 2:30PM will either need to be transported ahead to catch up with the group, or may not be permitted to participate. So please ensure you aim to arrive at 1pm.
The Event finishes at El Alamein Fountain, Kings Cross, with expected finish times ranging from 6:20-10:45pm. For a fit and active person to walk the course at a continuous brisk pace it will take about 4.5 to 5 hours. For someone with a moderate fitness level and/or stopping for breaks along the way it could take 6 – 8.5 hours.
Do I need to bring food and water with me?
Bring a reusable water bottle and preferred snacks; we will have water stations to refill your water bottle along the way and will provide light sustenance at each checkpoint, but nothing substantial. You will pass shops along the route should you need to pick up any food or drinks along the way.
What is the accessibility of the course?
This course has areas that are not pram or wheelchair friendly. We recommend taking on the Virtual Challenge where you can join us by choosing a suitable course for yourself.
How long does it take to walk the 28km?
For a fit and active person to walk the course at a continuous brisk pace it will take about 4.5 to 5 hours. For someone with a moderate fitness level and/or stopping for breaks along the way it could take 6 - 8.5 hours. It depends on how fast you walk!
Most people should reach Kings Cross by 9pm, but we're expecting the earliest may arrive around 6:20pm and the latest by 10:45pm. You have until 11pm to complete the walk.
What if I can’t walk the entire 28km?
You can alert one of the volunteers who will coordinate a vehicle to collect you and take you to the end zone. If you need to exit the course on the day, for safety reasons we ask you to please do so at a checkpoint. If you're unable to exit at a checkpoint, please contact our participant hotline on the day and let us know so we can ensure you're accounted for. (Details will be provided ahead of event day).
When does the 7-day Virtual Challenge take place?
Walk 28km during the week of Saturday 7th - Friday 13th October. Walk it in parts or walk it all in one go, it's up to you. You can start fundraising as soon as you register!
How do I get a Long Walk Home t-shirt?
Raise $360 on your individual fundraising page and you'll be entitled to a new Limited Edition Wayside Chapel Long Walk Home 2023 t-shirt.
T-shirts will be sent from late September to your nominated address once your target has been hit.
We will do our best to honour the size selected on registration.
When will my t-shirt arrive?
Once you have raised $360 to your individual fundraising page, you will be entitled to your free Limited Edition Wayside Long Walk Home 2023 t-shirt.
T-shirts will be sent from late September to your nominated address, once your target has been hit.. Don't worry, if you hit your target during or after the event, we will still send it out!
Please note we will do our best to honour your chosen size.
I'm doing the 7-Day Virtual Challenge. How do I track my progress?
You can record your distance for Virtual Long Walk Home either through Strava, Fitbit or MapMyFitness apps or, if you prefer, you can add your distance manually.
Fitness App
- Download Fitbit, Strava or MapMyFitness app and set up your account
- Login to your Long Walk Home dashboard and select ‘Log My Fitness Activity’
- Select your chosen app at ‘Connect your preferred Fitness app’ & follow the instructions on screen
- When you start each walk, select 'Start your workout' in the app on your phone. Once you stop and save your workout your distance will be published your page (this can take up to 24 hours).
Manual
If you are using the pedometer on your phone or other device rather than a fitness app, you can add your distance to your fundraising page manually:
- Log in to your dashboard and select ‘Log My Fitness Activity’
- Under ‘Add activity’, enter the date, activity type and the distance
- Click ‘Save changes’
