Wild Women On Top

Twenty years ago, Di Westaway found herself exhausted, frustrated, and unfit, with nothing on the horizon except her looming 40th birthday and an endless pile of laundry. She began to question if this was all life had to offer. Then, out of the blue, an acquaintance invited her on a hiking expedition to remote South America. This wasn’t just any hike; it involved climbing Mt Aconcagua, the tallest mountain in the Southern Hemisphere. On a whim, and much to her own surprise, she agreed. After all, she was a former athlete—how hard could it be? An Unsuccessful Climb The climb didn’t go as planned. They didn’t reach the summit. However, the experience was life-changing for Di. She realised there was more to fitness than gruelling gym sessions and monotonous runs. Discovering the Joy of Fitness Di learnt that being fit allows you to experience places most people never see. When you’re prepared for hiking, you can enjoy a cup of tea on a remote mountaintop, plunge into a glacial lake with friends, leap off a waterfall beside an active volcano, or climb a jagged rock tower at sunrise. Di decided to channel her newfound passion into ‘Trek Training’ for women in her local national park. She trained coaches and clients, and together they ventured to iconic destinations like Mt Kilimanjaro and Machu Picchu. Building Resilience and Finding True Happiness Standing on the side of a mountain, fearing for your life, puts everyday problems like teenage tantrums and marital strife into perspective. After facing such challenges, everything else seems manageable. More importantly, Di discovered a source of profound joy. She found that elusive 'something to look forward to,' which coloured her world with new vibrancy. Making Adventure Accessible Di realised not everyone could take off for far-flung adventures. Determined to share the exhilaration she felt, she created an event that encapsulated the best parts of her journeys—breathtaking views, laughter, camaraderie, chocolate, and champagne—into a single epic hike along Sydney’s coastline. And so, Coastrek was born. Coastrek Today Coastrek has grown into Australia’s leading charity hiking challenge for women. Participants can choose from 50km, 30km, or 20km treks along some of Australia’s most stunning coastlines, enjoying the company of friends and raising funds for heart health. To date, our community of 70,000 trekkers has raised over £48 million for charity, proving that adventure and altruism can go hand in hand.