Team Smiling aims high

Monday 8 June

Dane Waites is faced with challenges every day of his life, far beyond those that we confront or comprehend.

Now a gym member at Monash Sport, endurance athlete and drug free power-lifting competitor, Dane didn’t always have this freedom and independence.

At five years old, Dane’s mother Junee recognised the signs of Autism, he would not smile at his parents or meet their gaze. He would not play with toys or find solace in physical comfort.

Dane is now a Monash Sport fitness and aquatic member, and has been for three years since moving out of home and living independently. His father Rod discovered Monash Sport and recommended that Dane enquire about using the facilities.

Dane has now embarked upon a new challenge, to complete the Kokoda Challenge, a cross-country bushwalking team event where teams of 4 people trek a 96km course through the Gold Coast Hinterland within a 39 hour time limit.

The event aims to raise money to identify young Australians at a crossroads in their life and to help provide support to help them reach their potential, and it is up to each team to try and raise as much money as they can.

In preparation for the event, Dane regularly runs 15 to 20 kilometres a day, and in two weeks is heading to Wilsons Promontory to complete a 40k walk with his team mates.

Junee commented that the 40k walk is a training session aimed at slowing him down!

Last year of the 330 teams to start the Kokoda Challenge, only 70 of them finished. Junee went on to say “knowing Dane he’ll drag them over the line if he has to”.

His mother, Junee Waites comments that “Dane can’t cope with voids in his day, as he loses focus. He is serious about his fitness, and Monash Sport has been a saving grace enabling Dane to train when he has voids in his days”.

We wish Dane and his team, known as ‘Team Smiling’ all the very best in their training and eventual competition.

The Kokoda Challenge is held on the weekend of 18 and 19 June.

You can donate towards Team Smiling via the website or in person at Monash Sport Customer Service Desks at Clayton.

Dane at the start of the Kokoda Track Memorial Walk, before a practise run.