12-year-old Dusty Langby to trek 540 km for $1 million rural health fund
Twelve-year-old Dusty Langby will walk from Warren to Canberra, aiming to raise one million dollars for the Little Wings charity that supports sick children in regional Australia.
After his father Andrew suffered a severe farm accident in 2017, Dusty Langby took on caregiving duties at a very young age, helping his mother Sarah look after his brother Angus. The family’s experience with Little Wings, which flew Angus to specialists in Sydney and supports monthly paediatric clinics in Warren and nearby towns, inspired Dusty to launch the “Dollar for Dusty” campaign. Beginning on August 30, he will walk 540 km from his hometown of Warren to Parliament House in Canberra, aiming to raise $1 million for new rural paediatric clinics.
He plans to cover about 40 km each day, with his mother and Little Wings CEO Clare Pearson providing logistical support. Dusty also hopes to secure a meeting with the prime minister to discuss the need for better healthcare access in the bush. The fundraiser underscores the growing demand on Little Wings, which logged over 2,000 missions and helped 4,500 families in 2023, amid rising fuel costs and limited resources.
Why it matters
The walk spotlights the difficulty rural Australian children face accessing specialist medical care.
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