News

Churches Go the Extra Mile 22-Mar-2010
We've been doing the rounds speaking and presenting at a number of churches in and around Melbourne over the past weeks. The Surrender conference at Belgrave Heights Convention was a highlight with a number of church leaders wanting to get their church members mobilised. As was the example with Holy Trinity in Upwey, going the 'Extra Mile' is a great way to get fit and support a worthy cause while doing it together in the formation of teams. Holy Trinity (TT's) now boasts 8 members from it's fellowship - while Hills AOG has some 15 members (and growing) walking with us. Beautiful!
New Sponsors Go the Extra Mile 10-Mar-2009
We are grateful to our supporters and sponsors who have helped, and continue to help us grow the Go the Extra Mile event. We're delighted to welcome newcomers Carmens Health Foods, Buzzbee Homes, Skyhigh Restaurant and Printman Colour Group to our growing list of sponsors. Aussie Disposals are back again this year helping us once again with outdoor equipment and fundraising prizes. If you would like to help us grow the event and know of folks who share our passion for justice for the Indian Dalit children, then give them our details. The bigger the event grows, the more help we can provide - it's that simple. Remember to support those who support us - and tell them you're an Extra Miler!
Walkers Dusting Off the Boots 13-Nov-2009
We're getting all geared up for the next Melbourne event Go the Extra Mile to be held on May 1, 2010. We'll again be focusing our efforts on allieviating the terrible conditions inflicted upon the Dalit children and their families by religions's cruel caste system which traps these dear people into a life of hopelessness within the nation of India. After raising an amazing $125,000 in 2009 for Gospel for Asia's Bridge of Hope centres, we're hoping to double that amount in 2010 and raise a staggering $250,000 ($10.5Million Rupees). After the great successes of 2009's Melbourne and Brisbane event, we are looking forward to even bigger events for 2010. The conditions in the beautiful Melbourne Dandenong Ranges are perfect for some gentle pre-event walking with consistent warm weather and sunny days. We have had alot of interest in the 2010 events and so if you friends that would like to know about the event get them to subscribe to the newsletter from this website. Registrations open from December 1st onwards. We look forward to some great walking for 2010!
Walkers Go the Extra Mile in Inaugural Event 2-May-2009
The inaugural Go the Extra Mile event was held today in beautiful Melbourne autumn weather. A total of 126 walkers set out from Jells Park at 7.05am to tackle the 50km course, finishing up in the leafy Dandenong Ranges suburb of Ferny Creek. Walkers enjoyed dry and mostly sunny conditions with some light cloud throughout the day. The evening brought cooler conditions with most walkers finishing the event around dusk. Big congratulations to winners of the event, the all girl team The Runaways (Kate Sanderson & Robin Lennon) with a total time of 7hrs 7mins - well done girls on a blistering effort.Our final walkers came in after 15hrs 6mins (10.11pm) out on the trail to rousing applause from the tireless welcoming committee. Well done walkers!
Students to Go the Extra Mile 18-April-2009
Belgrave Heights Christian School is the first school to Go the Extra Mile for the Dalit children of India. All primary school students will be asked to walk 50kms during the month of May. The distance can be covered by lunchtime walks at school, at home with friends or out and about with mum and dad on the weekends. All distances must be verified by either a teacher or a parent. The distances covered by each child will be summed into a house total each week and the winning house will be broadcast throughout the school. Children are encouraged to seek sponsorship from family and friends with all donations over $2 being tax deductible and 100% of the money going towards the care of the Dalit children in India. This is a brilliant way to educate children about the problem of poverty, and empower them to become part of the solution. Go kids!
We'll match your best fundraising efforts! 17-April-2009
We'll match your best fundraising efforts dollar for dollar - well not exactly us - an extremely kind benefactor has just informed us that they will match the highest team's fundraising efforts - up to $5,000. So if you raise anywhere up to $5,000 for the Dalit kids and you're our highest fundraiser you will automatically double your fundraising total! Come on guys - what an amazing incentive to pull those donations in, sell those chocolates, busk on a street corner, sell your junk on Ebay, throw a DVD movie night with popcorn thrown in for a donation, make the ask! You can fundraise all the way up to tax time (June 30) - so what are you waiting for?
GFA Australia Team Ready to Roll 7-Dec-2008
Geoff and Monica Darr from the Australian Gospel for Asia office have been spotted out and about in Toowoomba's urban trails while in training for the Melbourne May event. While a little unorthodox in their fashion selections, the Darrs appear to be ready to tackle the 50kms head on in May. We wish them well with their physical challenge and look forward to the celebration when they cross the finish line in Ferny Creek. Bring on the trail.
New Promotional Video 8-Jan-2009
Happy New Year to all our Go the Extra Milers! You can now watch the 3min promo DVD for the event here. If you would like to order a copy of the DVD for your group or church, then please drop us a line here and we'll send a promotional pack to you (contains DVD, promotional material, poster).
Alpha Australia 5-Dec-2008
Australia is the most recent supporter for Go the Extra Mile and we welcome them to the event. The Alpha course is designed primarily for people who aren't churchgoers and each course is open to everyone who would like to attend and explore the big questions of life, death and faith. Alpha is the perfect setting for discovering all that the Christian faith teaches. To find out more click their logo.
Pioneers 3-Dec-2008
We are delighted to welcome Pioneers Australia as a supporter of the event. Pioneers is an international mission movement, made up of people from all over the world who are passionate for God, and are committed to knowing Him more fully, and making Him known. To find out more click their logo.
Focus on the Family 27-Nov-2008
Happy to announce that internationally recognised Focus on the Family Australia has today agreed to become a supporter of Go the Extra Mile. Focus on the Family Australia is committed to strengthening families through its rich resource base of educational books, DVD's, seminars and conferences and is known world wide for its work to protect the family. We are delighted that Focus sees that the ministry to the Dalit children as a ministry to the Dalit families. Lifting Dalit children (and families) from poverty will mean a brighter future for the nation of India. To find out more click their logo.
BBQ Talkfest 22-Nov-2008
A large crowd from all around Melbourne gathered today at a BBQ cook up to network and exchange ideas about Go the Extra Mile. Great interest for the event led to a good number of folks both volunteering their talents and efforts to the event - a large number have also committed to walking the event. So all up a very encouraging outcome. If you would like to host a BBQ lunch or afternoon tea - then let us know. We'd be more than happy to come along and help out.
First Information Afternoon 22-Nov-2008
People from all over Melbourne came together to hear about the work for Gospel for Asia and to hear about the progress of Go the Extra Mile. It is exciting to see the genuine interest being taken in this new event, and the encouraging news that we are getting is that many folks are looking forward to registering in the event come Dec 1 - there is talk of a single team of 25 coming on board. With limited resources to advertise the event, we rely heavily upon the networks that folks have with one another to get the word out.
Final Trail Check 21-Nov-2009
Two trusted and tireless volunteers headed out on the final trail check. Leaving from Jells Park at 6am in the dark, both girls walked the 50kms non-stop finishing up at Ferny Creek at 6.15pm. That's a walk time of around 11hrs 40mins (once you remove the breaks). These women are tough - they did the 50kms on minimal training. A few blisters and some sore knee joints were the main complaint. So it just goes to show you what some determination can accomplish. Well done girls!