Walking 142 kilometres over five days is no small feat, but for Parker Coles Curtis Founding Director Jacqui Curtis, that challenge for The Menslink Great Walk has always been about something much bigger than the distance.

The 2025 Great Walk began at Parliament House on Tuesday, 11 November 2025, before taking walkers across Canberra’s stunning Centenary Trail. Covering around 30 kilometres per day, the route stretched further than Kokoda (96km) and even the distance to Everest Base Camp (130km), before the final leg returned back to Parliament House, concluding with a well-deserved finish at the Southern Cross Yacht Club in Yarralumla.

Why Jacqui walked

For Jacqui, this walk represents the heart of her work as a family lawyer: showing up for people during their toughest seasons and helping to turn things around for them.

“At our firm, we’ve seen firsthand the ripple effect of Menslink’s work. Many of the young men they support come from single-parent households where mums are carrying so much. They may be in crisis, or struggling with how to raise the next generation of young men especially where there is a lack of positive male roles in their community. Menslink helps fill that gap. Through our pro bono legal work with Menslink clients, we see just how transformative their support can be for those young men and their families.”

Menslink’s programs provide mentorship, counselling and education to young men, often those facing mental health challenges, identity struggles, or lacking a stable male role model. At a time when demand for services is higher than ever and the cost to deliver them continues to rise, Jacqui’s commitment to the walk was deeply personal and purpose-driven.

Jacqui says hearing from some single-mothers who spoke to this year’s walkers during the 6-day expedition didn’t leave a dry eye amongst the group. “The mums spoke about how life-changing Menslink had been for their sons and their family unit as a whole. Having a consistent and dependable male role model show up for their sons during challenges like poor mental health, social pressures or the aftermath of family breakdowns really spurred us on,” Jacqui said.

“Hearing their stories brought home how deeply impactful the work Menslink does is for these families and young boys and men. I am just so proud that together with the support of the firm and the generous donations I’ve secured so far, I’ve been able to contribute to that continuing.”

A fundraising journey that surpassed every goal

Each walker was challenged to raise $10,000, but Jacqui didn’t just meet that target...she soared past it. Through unwavering community support, individual donors, and two successful fundraising events she hosted, Jacqui raised an incredible: $12,669!

Together, these events helped spark conversations, broaden understanding of Menslink’s work, and galvanise support across Canberra.

If you missed out on attending those events, don’t worry - there is still time to donate! If you want to help Jacqui and Menslink you can donate to this year's Menslink Great Walk here.

The five-day challenge

Across the 142km journey, Jacqui walked beside an inspiring group of Canberra’s leaders and changemakers. Together they pushed through long days, steep climbs, changing terrain and the emotional weight of the cause they were walking for.

The Great Walk is as much about resilience and community as it is about physical endurance. With over $1,800 needed to support just one young man through mentorship, counselling and school-based programs, every step taken — and every dollar raised — directly helps strengthen families and futures in our region. So far the 2025 walk individuals have collectively raised over $382,000!

‘200,000 steps across 142km, over 5 testing days, resulting in 2 blisters and an epic sense of pride and accomplishment! Yes it’s been hard - but it was never lost on me for a moment what a privilege it is to have the support and network of my family and co-Directors, Debra Parker and Catherine Coles, to undertake this quest. It’s been impactful for me personally, especially knowing the funds I’ve raised will help to change the life of a Canberran and their family, and discovering new connections with my fellow walkers. THANK YOU to all of you who donated’

In her words

“This walk is about community. It’s about standing beside those who need it most. And it’s about doing what we do best at Parker Coles Curtis, being in someone’s corner, every step of the way.”

A huge congratulations

We are incredibly proud of Jacqui, for her endurance, her leadership, and her unwavering commitment to supporting Canberra families. Her achievement reflects the very heart of our firm: compassion, courage and a dedication to creating brighter futures.

Congratulations, Jacqui, on completing the Great Walk!