Make Every Drop Matter - Newsletter Issue 4

Coca-Cola Community Award winner and Paralympic skier, Michael Milton triumph on the Kokoda Trail.

Two inspiring Australians set out on a trip of a lifetime last month, overcoming enormous physical and psychological challenges to complete the gruelling and testing Kokoda Trail.

Robyn Sanewski from Queensland, alongside Coca-Cola Community Awards Ambassador and Paralympic ski champion, Michael Milton, successfully completed the 96km trail in an impressive nine days - one day ahead of schedule.

Robyn is the recipient of this years Coca-Cola Australia Community Award. The walk with Michael, in addition to a $10, 000 grant, was Robyn's prize for her outstanding commitment to inspiring young people to lead healthy lifestyles through her program "Fit For Life".

Robyn's achievement was remarkable and having started her journey many months ago with a tough regime and a personal trainer to help prepare for the punishing walk, she knew there was nothing that was going to stop her from getting to the end.

"It was demanding and exhausting. At times I really didn't think I'd make it. It took a couple of days to acclimatise to the humidity and the conditions, but everyone on the trek was so encouraging and I wasn't going to let them or myself down by giving up. I wouldn't swap the experience for anything."

Having battled with her weight all her life, Robyn recognises the importance of leading an active and healthy lifestyle and that these habits are formed at a young age. As a Youth Facilitator at the Biloela PCYC, she developed "Fit For Life", an after-school physical and nutrition activity program for children ranging from five to 15 years of age.

The innovative "Fit For Life" program is all about encouraging physical activity and teaching children to make healthy food choices. Fun physical group activities are incorporated not only for physical benefits, but also to encourage the kids to become friends. Afternoon tea is an opportunity to teach them about healthy eating and how to choose healthy alternatives as snacks.

The Coca-Cola Community Awards was a national search by Michael Milton and The Coca-Cola Australia Foundation to find six unsung heroes around Australia making a difference in their local communities. Each of the six finalists from across the nation received a $5,000 grant from the Coca-Cola Australia Foundation for their organisation.

The Coca-Cola Australia Foundation is committed to the health and wellbeing of Australia's youth, and through initiatives such as the Coca-Cola Community Awards, is able to reward those who have or are currently promoting a healthy and active life amongst young people in the community.

For more information about initiatives promoting active lifestyles from Coca-Cola in Australia visit www.activefactor.com.au.