The Blue Mountains hold some of New South Wales’ most stunning views: majestic sandstone cliffs, endlessly stretching forests and some of the largest waterfalls in the region.
For Madeline Baker, Ksenija Bragg, Anna Draper, Victoria Janchek, Kathleen Quine and Tessa Sloane, the Blue Mountains also represent an opportunity for change.
Through the GI Cancer Institute’s Gutsy Challenge, they will traverse 15km to raise funds for bowel cancer research in memory of their dear friend Lachlan Kean, who passed away in 2023 from bowel cancer. Victoria describes Lachlan as “one of those people who you felt lucky to know”.
“He was warm, funny, always up for an adventure, and had a real spark for life,” she says.
Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, makes up the second highest number of cancer deaths in Australia. It’s estimated that 15,542 Australians were diagnosed with the disease last year. It’s also increasingly impacting people who are younger.
Lachlan was just 37 years old when he passed.
“He loved his family, his cooking and his mighty Canterbury Bulldogs!” Anna remembers. “He is so very missed by us all.”
The close-knit group of friends chose to take part in the Gutsy Challenge to support a cause dear to their hearts: finding better treatment options and quality of life for people with bowel cancer, through research.
“Lachie was someone who never stopped fighting, never stopped trying, and who managed to stay relentlessly positive even through unimaginable pain,” says Tessa.
To continue Lachie’s legacy, his loved ones came together. “The Lachlan Kean Foundation was started by friends after Lachlan passed away,” says Kathleen.
“He spent the most difficult last months of his life selflessly determined to help raise necessary awareness around bowel cancer.”
When asked what they were most looking forward to on the trek, the friends answered – spending time in nature with each other as they raise funds for this vital work. The memory of Lachlan drives them forward in training for the trek.
The Blue Mountains Gutsy Challenge will take place on Saturday, 13 September 2025. For more information, visit gicancer.org.au/BlueMountains2025.
This article was featured in The Digest, Issue 3, 2025.
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