The 3700km journey will demonstrate that diabetes is not a barrier, after the former Crathern Medallist was diagnosed with the disease about two years ago.
Now back on the farm in Wycheproof, the on-baller will set off from the top of Mt Wycheproof – incidentally the world’s smallest registered mountain, at 148m – on July 1 and finish at the tip of Queensland 30 days later.
He should cover about 120km every day for a month, before returning to Cairns for a fundraiser on August 8.
The popular figure, who left Saints after the 2011 season as one of the most decorated players and coaches in the club’s short history, has coined the ride Top to Tip and so far raised about $30,000.
An unselfish leader that has always let his actions do the talking, Coatsworth said the arduous journey – the last 700km will be on dirt roads – would inspire others with type 1 diabetes to forge ahead with their life goals.
“There are a few kids around the area with diabetes and hopefully this shows them that diabetes isn’t a barrier to anything,” he said.
“I opened my mouth about this idea at one point and it just grew from there; I hate cycling but I’m doing plenty of it now.”
Diabetes complications can cause major health problems such as blindness, heart disease, stroke and kidney failure.
It is the fastest-growing chronic condition in Australia, with more than one million sufferers, including 120,000 with type 1 diabetes.
Coatsworth, an AFL Cairns best and fairest winner in 2008, still plays footy but admitted things had been different since his diagnosis.
“I had been injured for a while but came back and played and it really set it off,” Coatsworth said.
“I got really crook, was in hospital for a week and now I’m on insulin every day and don’t drink much any more.”
He will travel with a support crew and expects friends to join in for various stages along the way.
Donations are now being channelled to the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, which funds research that helps improve the understanding of the disease. Earlier donations were committed to Diabetes Victoria.
To donate or for more information, visit toptotip.com.au
Article Courtesy of Murray Wenzel The Cairns Post
Last Modified on 23/04/2015 15:34