I’m fundraising for the Leukaemia Foundation in honour of my stepdad who passed from Acute Myeloid Leukaemia in 2024

The 29th of April 2024 was supposed to be a day of celebration as we marked our 7th wedding anniversary. Instead, after a short but fierce battle, my stepfather, Robert “Poppy” Coutts Christie, was taken from us by Acute Myeloid Leukaemia.

That day, we lost a man who played an enormous role in my life, the lives of our children, and the lives of everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.

Like any family, we had our ups and downs, but I have nothing but admiration for Poppy and everything he did for me, for our family, and most importantly, for our children. His love, generosity and quiet strength left a mark that will never fade.

It’s for our children—and all of his grandchildren—that I’m climbing this mountain. By taking on the Mission Vert 5 in Robert’s honour, I hope to show that while he may be gone, he will never be forgotten. I’ll do that in the only way I know how: embracing the pain, the fatigue, and the challenge that comes with running.

Every step up that mountain will be for him. Every climb will be a reminder that cancer takes far too much, far too often, and that together we can help make a difference for families facing the same heartbreak.

We love you, old man.

I’m sorry for all that I put you through over the years. I don’t think I ever told you just how much I appreciated everything you did for me and our family. I owe you more than you’ll ever know.

You will never be forgotten. I hope you’re watching on, having a laugh at my crazy decision to join 24 other Bloody Mission Vert 5 runners and repeatedly climb this mountain in your honour.

If my suffering for a day can help raise funds to fight the disease that took you from us, then every step, every climb, and every moment of pain will be worth it.

I’m also incredibly grateful to my employer, Delta Power & Energy, who have committed to matching every dollar donated, dollar for dollar, up to $5,000. That means every donation made will go twice as far in supporting this important cause.

Thank you to everyone who chooses to support this cause. Whether you donate, share this page, or simply cheer me on, your support means more than you know. Together, we can honour Poppy’s memory while helping bring hope to families facing this disease.

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Every vertical metre counts — your donation fuels this climb!

Your Impact

Help me earn the Financial Support badge. That's enough to help 75 families who are struggling financially with expenses like hospital parking and groceries.

Clinical Trial

Raised $10,000
Financial Support

Raised $7500
Discovery

Raised $4800
Transportation

Raised $2500
Personalised Treatment

Raised $1000
Place to Stay

Raised $560
Helping Hand

Raised $250
Lab Equipment

Raised $53
Off the Mark

Raised $1

I’m $2,636 away from my next impact milestone. Please help me reach it.

Donate now

My Updates

Over $4000!!

Wednesday 19th Aug

Considering i was happy to get $1000 when i jumped onto this challenge, I'm pretty amazed at the contributions from all of my family, friends and the running community for this worthy cause!

With $4100 in the kitty so far, that equates to $8200 with Deltas $5000 matched dollar for dollar contribution!

But…can we make it to the $5000 to get the $10,000 goal? Surely we can ❤️❤️

Every donation no matter how big or small will help the Leukaemia Foundation to support people like my Step Father Robert suffering this terrible disease.

I even went to the hill and powered though 10 laps to get over 3300m of vert and 37km in distance over 7hours the weekend past to prove to myself this is doable and that ill give it everything i have.

So please jump on board and let's hit this goal together and give me 10,000 reasons to slay the challenge come October 💪🏻

And just like that we’re over $3000!!

Thursday 16th Jul

I cannot thank the people who have come on board to donate to this amazing fundraiser, and even more so for the kind words im hearing everyday about their memories of Robert and how much he meant to so many ❤️

With $3000 on the board and Deltas matching that actually has us over $6000?!!! Thats incredible and a little unbelievable 😵

I have branched out and been lucky to have my work promote the fundraiser internally and via social media, Toukley Golf Club (Roberts local of over 30 years) came on board to promote the cause and even the local runners shop agreed to put out some material to promote the run…i am so elated that companies like this, friends, family and even strangers to me are sharing this cause to get max donations for the Leukaemia Foundation alongside Bloody Missions crazy run

Again…thank you from the bottom of my heart and lets see how far we can go! If you can spare even a dollar it will go a long way to help people suffering this terrible disease, and if not and youre willing to, please share and get this story out to any whos willing to listen ❤️❤️❤️

$2000 in the first 24hrs!! 🤯

Saturday 4th Jul

Wow! This is massive! $2000 raised for The Leukaemia Foundation with mad props to the deadset legends at Bloody Mission org is insanity!!

To all that have donated so far, a truly appreciative thank you from myself ❤️❤️ and to know up until $5000 every donation will be doubled by my amazing employer Delta Power and Energy is legit the icing on the cake…so really thats over $4000 so far!!

Every dollar counts and if you cant spare the dollar, share with others where you can as this is an amazing cause as as most know is very close to my heart having lost a family member and nearly losing my cousin to Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia many many years ago.

Lets send this to the moon, or at least to the top of the mountain 16x over 😂 ❤️

Thank you to all my supporters

$55.95

Heath Holland

Bless You Matty. Go Hard!

$50

Wayne Hockings

$23.81

Nathan Walters

$39.93

Tommo Smith

Good on ya mate! Well done.

$55.95

Harry Manoli

$216.50

Jim Turner

$216.50

Thomas Hoy

$54.75

Mark, Rach, Granger, Bowen

$50

Wayne Jones

Good luck mate

$23

“macho Man” Randy Savage

I'm the tower of power, too sweet to be sour. I'm funky like a monkey. Sky's the limit and space is the place!

$25

Charlie Wilkinson

Great effort Matt, you’ll smash it!

$28.81

Keira

NEARLY THERE!!!!!!!! 💪🏽

$23.81

Josh Wilkinson

$44

Carlson Marine

Whos gonna carry the boats!!!

$55.95

Anonymous

$57

Cam Hanes

NOBODY CARES, WORK HARDER!

$152.87

Lynette Boulter

$23.33

Trish

Good luck!

$106.75

Anonymous

$23.81

Anonymous

Keep Hammering

$54.84

Dan Bendevski

$54.84

James Rickett

$106.12

Karina Braithwaite

$23.50

The Harvey Family

Keep on goin man!

$100

Paul Darbin

Go climb that hill.

$106.12

Aimee Riley

$106.12

Alison Aitken

$6.20

Graham Pullen

Thank you Matthew. I played golf with Rob quite a few times and was shocked by his passing. Always a gentleman.

$106.12

Nicki

$516

Kedron Car Electrics

$106.12

Jay Gainey

Get after it big dog! 💪🏻

$54.84

Anonymous

$54.84

Wayne Trevithick

Great work Matt !

$28.43

Angela Mulroney

$54.84

Anne Mackie

Good luck to you and your team Matthew. Miss my beautiful cousin Robert so much - he was such great fun and always found time to chat to us from the other side of the world. Great host with his beautiful wife Leslie when we managed to visit them a few years ago. We would have been celebrating our 60ths together this year . 🥲💔

$33.87

Kelly H

$54.84

Dd

🕺🕺🕺

$106.12

Robert Boulter

$54.84

Annette And William

We will be thinking of you Matthew, Annette and William

$54.84

Quynn Landesmann

This is something truly amazing. Well done to you and everyone involved for making such a huge impact on the lives of families dealing with Leukaemia 🩷

$39.32