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By Olivia Dimech
Rachel Warnke and her husband, Christian, are lacing up their hiking boots for a challenge that blends adventure, purpose, and deep personal meaning. On November 29th 2025, the Hawkesbury couple will trek 22 kilometres to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko, taking on a full day climb to raise funds and awareness for Paralympics Australia.
While Christian, as Rachel jokes, is “mainly just along for the ride,” the cause holds special significance for her. Rachel has spent years working closely with children and teens with disabilities, serving as a leader at seven Amp Camps, immersive programs for young people with limb differences. She has seen firsthand how adaptive sport can shape identity, confidence, and dreams. Many of the campers she has mentored have gone on to set ambitious goals, some even aspiring to represent Australia at the Paralympics. A few already have.
“Paralympics Australia relies heavily on donations and sponsorships,” Rachel says. “Knowing that this support gives people the opportunity to compete and do something they love makes this fundraiser incredibly special.”
For the Warnkes, hiking is far from a new pursuit. Both are outdoorsy and have tackled their share of multi-day adventures. In 2023, Rachel completed a five-day trek through the Flinders Ranges to raise money for the Melanoma Institute of Australia, an experience that, she says, “lit a spark” for more purpose driven challenges. But climbing Australia’s highest peak for a cause so close to her heart brings a new level of motivation.
Preparation for the hike includes regular bushwalks and, according to Rachel, plenty of excitement.
“There’s something motivating about completing the hike and then being able to say we climbed Australia’s highest mountain,” she says.
Her advocacy for Paralympians has grown alongside her work with children with limb differences. Rachel says the experience opened her eyes to longstanding inequalities between Olympians and Paralympians, from financial incentives to visibility, sponsorship, and media coverage. She notes that while reforms in 2024 guaranteed equal medal bonuses for Paralympic athletes, significant gaps still remain.
One young athlete in particular stands out in her memory, Jack Howell. Rachel met him during her first year at Amp Camp and has followed his journey ever since. Born with a limb difference, Jack has competed nationally and internationally in Para Triathlon. In 2024, he achieved an extraordinary milestone, placing 7th at the Paris Paralympics. Other teens she has supported are already competing at elite levels, hoping to qualify for future Games.
To Rachel, their achievements underscore why increasing awareness matters just as much as donations.
“Most people don’t even know that the Paralympics has its own logo,” she says. “Paralympians work just as hard, with much less funding and support.”
The Hawkesbury community can help by donating through Paralympics Australia or directly supporting the Warnkes’ hike fundraiser. Raising awareness, sharing information, talking about Paralympic sport, or tuning in to the 2028 Games, is just as important, Rachel says.
Ultimately, she hopes their story encourages others to step outside their comfort zone and try something new, just as she plans to. With a pattern of taking on a major fundraiser every few years, she laughs that another challenge is surely on the horizon.
“It may not always be financial,” she adds, “but I do whatever I can in other ways.”
For now, though, the Warnkes are focused on reaching the roof of Australia, one meaningful step at a time.
Please note: Rachel and Christian have already completed their Mount Kosciuszko hike. This story captures their journey leading up to the event.
