Attending an Outward Bound Course inspired Chantelle Robinson to help others sign u p for a course.

Chantelle Robinson knows how life-changing Outward Bound can be and jumped at the chance to help others experience it.

The 32-year-old Tauranga librarian did Outward Bound’s eight-day discovery course in November 2021.

Based in the Marlborough Sounds, the course was physically and mentally challenging, Chantelle says, with group activities and two solo nights in the bush. It was “the best week” and left her more confident and keen to keep testing herself.

“When I saw that Wilderness had partnered with Outward Bound, I thought it would be cool to raise money for someone else to experience that,” she says.

The fundraising has given Chantelle a fresh take on Walk1200km, after starting a second year of the challenge in October 2022.

She says asking for money was “definitely something I was going to struggle with”. But donations rolled in when she emailed her co-workers about the challenge.

She also told members of her Outward Bound course about it, and two of them decided to sign up and fundraise as well.

For Chantelle, Walk1200km in 2023 will be about reaching 1200km and being consistent with her walking, even through winter.

She’s well on target, having completed close to 300km in two months, including 85km on the Old Ghost Road.

• You can support Chantelle in her fundraising goal here.

Join Chantelle and others in walking 1200km in 2023. Sign up now.