Steps to safety: Palmwoods rallies behind Walk for Daniel

United for a great cause: from left, Sandy Pearce from Brady’s Fruit, Juliette Watson from Gourmet Garden, Daniel Morcombe Foundation’s Susan Lyle, and Col Pearce from Brady’s are rallying in support of the Walk for Daniel initiative.

by Cameron Outridge

IN a generous display of community support, Palmwoods businesses are stepping up to support the Daniel Morcombe Foundation’s annual Walk for Daniel. The event launches the Foundation’s Day for Daniel, Australia’s largest child safety education and awareness day.

Peter Maguire from We Meat Again Butchers of Distinction, the Foundation’s Susan Lyle and Grace Scarvell and Sienna Barry from Palmwoods Bakery.

Since 2004, the Daniel Morcombe Foundation has gathered with the Sunshine Coast community to walk for Daniel, from Suncoast Christian College in Woombye to Briggs Park in Palmwoods. The 4kms represents the route Daniel was unable to complete himself.

Daniel Morcombe Foundation Community Engagement Officer Susan Lyle said businesses had already jumped on board. “This year McCormick Foods Australia/ Gourmet Garden will be supporting Walk for Daniel by providing a sausage sizzle at the finish in Briggs Park,” she said.

“Plus, they are purchasing all their requirements locally from Palmwoods Butchery, Palmwoods Bakery and Brady’s Fruit & Veg. Juliette Watson from Gourmet Garden has been there for 15 years and is championing our cause within the organisation. She is a total gem. They have an excellent staff engagement program have employees on staff that have been there for 35 years!”

Juliette said the company was proud to get behind the worthwhile cause on such a profound and important day.

“After recently reading the book ‘Where is Daniel’ I felt a connection to the Daniel

Morcombe Foundation,” she said. “I wanted to become involved somehow, and champion the community spirit at Palmwoods and the amazing work the Daniel Morcombe Foundation does.”Walk for Daniel

• Start 6am Friday, 27 October Suncoast Christian College, Woombye

• Finish 9am Briggs Park, Woombye

• Parking at finish (Palmwoods Warriors Football Club)

• Shuttle buses operating from 5.45am

• Coffee and food will be available at the walk

If you can’t make Walk for Daniel, you can participate in Day for Daniel by registering your workplace, school or early learning centre on the Foundation’s website. Create your own unique event such as a child safety activity, raffle or bake sale. Funds raised help the Foundation develop child safety resources to educate children and support young victims of crime. The Walk is supported by BOQ Maroochydore.