Big steps: Tina Benedict will have climbed 100,000 steps by the time her 1000 Steps for 100 days challenge is over. Picture: Ted Kloszynski
YOU'RE never too young to have a bucket list, especially if you're about to embark on a demanding career as a doctor.
And for 23-year-old Tina Benedict, two of her bucket list items will also help the Cancer Council continue its good work.
Ms Benedict has taken a gap year from studying medicine in Queensland, and is back home in Melbourne for 12 months. But she's not spending her time lazing about — the eastern suburbs woman is climbing the 1000 Steps every day for 100 days to raise $10,000 for the Cancer Council.
Prior to the challenge, she had never tackled the famed 1000 Steps trail in Ferntree Gully — it was one of the items on her bucket list, and another was to raise money for charity.
"I wanted to do something meaningful so it is a bit of a big effort," she said. She's up to day 26 and the route is getting easier every day — "I can even jog up a bit of the stairs now".
Ms Benedict chose to support the Cancer Council because several family members had died from the disease, as well as a good friend who died from ovarian cancer during year 12.
She works 30 hours at Australian Geographic each week, but said her shifts were well-timed so she could either take the daily walk in the morning or afternoon. "Rain, hail or shine I will be out there. I have the drive and the commitment because it is such a good cause."
But if something does happen and she misses a day, Ms Benedict will have a self-imposed penalty — she has to do the steps three times in one go. "I've done it once and it was dark by the time I finished."
Friends and family walk with her some days, and she will soon have a T-shirt to wear on the walk so people know what she's doing. Ms Benedict is also dedicating certain days to her friends and family who have died from cancer.
To follow her progress or find out how to donate, go to facebook.com/100daysof1000steps.
What's on your bucket list? Let us know at knoxweekly.com.au, facebook.com/knoxweekly or @knoxweekly.