TREKKING 210km from Buninyong to Bendigo might seem like an extreme way to make a point.
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But for three young people passionate about the hardships undergone by police officers, it will be an easy trip to make in comparison.
Vincent Cotronea, 24 and Kevin Shea, 30, both from Bacchus Marsh will be joined by Tarryn McDonald, 25 from Hoppers Crossing when they make the trek of a lifetime starting December 3.
They plan to walk about 30km each day along the Goldfields Track, originally called the Great Dividing Trail, until they arrive in Bendigo, an expedition they anticipate will take about eight days.
The trio is aiming to raise awareness of the stressful duties suffered by police officers and raise money for the Police Blue Ribbon Foundation.
Mr Cotronea said the group would move through bushland along the Yarrowee and townships including Buninyong, Ballarat, Creswick and Daylesford.
Each police station along the way is offering their support with posters and fundraising for the group’s hike, which they have named Hike for the Thin Blue Line.
Mr Cotronea said the trio enjoyed trekking and camping and often did so for fun.
“We thought we enjoy it, why not put it to a good cause and try to raise money for a good reason?” he said.
He said all three had witnessed among family and friends just how tough the profession could be.
The trio will carry backpacks with provisions and cook meagre meals along the way.
Ms McDonald said the tough trip would be a “massive personal achievement” for the three and bring “something positive” out of a tough issue, given that police were prone to sometimes tragic outcomes as a result of the tough work they did.
“The current demands of policing are tough. A few decades ago it was different. The members are now under more stress,” she said.
"Policing has ran through my family for over 50 years and I have seen firsthand the effect that stress from the job has on them and the hours they work away from their family.”
She said front-line officers needed plenty of support in order to cope with the rigours of their occupation.
In total, 159 Victorian police officers have been killed in the line of duty.
The Blue Ribbon Foundation aims to raise funds for and perpetuate the memories of officers killed in the line of duty in Victoria. The foundation donates funds to emergency facilities in public hospitals, named in memory of police who have died at work.
To donate to the trio’s cause, visit Hike for the Thin Blue Line on Facebook or visit instagram.com/hikeforthethinblueline