Team FOGS Completes the 2026 Kokoda Challenge

Team FOGS has completed the Kokoda Challenge Gold Coast, overcoming extreme conditions to finish the gruelling 96km course after 36 hours on the track.

When the team first committed to the challenge, the goal was simple: finish together.

That commitment was tested throughout the event as Lisa Duncan, Darren Lewis, Christy Schmidt and Amelia Quabba faced driving rain, freezing temperatures, cyclonic winds and an increasingly difficult track.

Despite the brutal conditions, the team continued to support one another and push forward, demonstrating the courage, endurance, mateship and sacrifice at the heart of the Kokoda Challenge.

After walking continuously through the day and night, Team FOGS crossed the finish line together, completing one of Australia’s toughest team endurance events.

An Incredible Fundraising Result

The challenge was about much more than completing 96km.

Team FOGS participated to raise funds for the Kokoda Youth Foundation, which delivers life-changing programs for young Australians. These programs use outdoor experiences, teamwork and personal development activities to help young people build confidence, resilience, leadership skills and a stronger sense of purpose.

Team FOGS originally set a fundraising target of $1,500 but finished with an outstanding total of $7,538.

This placed the team eighth out of 1,821 fundraising teams, an incredible result that reflects the generosity of everyone who supported their campaign.

Across the event, participants raised more than $650,000 for the Kokoda Youth Foundation. These funds will help the organisation continue providing fully funded programs that engage and inspire young people to realise their potential.

© Kokoda Walk Challenge

The Queensland Spirit on Display

Completing the Kokoda Challenge requires months of training, physical preparation and mental resilience. However, no amount of preparation could fully replicate the conditions the team encountered during the event.

For 36 hours, the team battled fatigue, difficult terrain and relentless weather while continuing to encourage and support one another.

Their determination reflected the Queensland spirit that FOGS proudly represents: standing together, continuing through adversity and refusing to leave anyone behind.

The achievement was also made possible by the incredible efforts of support crew members Sarah Lewis and Karen Andersen.

Throughout the challenge, Sarah and Karen travelled between checkpoints, set up camp areas and made sure the walkers had access to food, drinks and opportunities to rest before heading back onto the track. Their encouragement, organisation and practical support played an important role in helping the team continue through the toughest stages of the event.

Taking care of a team across a 36-hour endurance challenge is no small task, and FOGS sincerely thanks Sarah and Karen for the commitment and care they showed throughout the weekend.

FOGS congratulates Lisa, Darren, Christy and Amelia on their extraordinary achievement and thanks Sarah, Karen, the team’s donors and the wider community who helped make the campaign such a success.

The team set out to complete the challenge together, support young Australians and demonstrate the power of courage, endurance, mateship and sacrifice.

They achieved all three.

Queenslander!