Youth mental health charity zero2hero has raised almost $300,000 from its cape2cape trek for business leaders, with weeks still to go until fundraising closes.
The CEO Trek – which has been running twice a year – featured 16 business leaders from Perth this year, including one business owner who is 76 years old.
The participants have raised around $290,000 so far after trekking 135 kilometres over five days from Cape Leeuwin to Cape Naturaliste last week to raise awareness around youth mental health and raise funds for zero2hero’s schools programs and leadership camps.
Almost $300,000 is a significant rise from last year’s total raise of around $200,000, but it still falls short of the $750,000 raised in the first CEO Trek back in 2024.
“With that much raised, that obviously enables our impact and our reach to grow year on year,” zero2hero event manager Amy Felton said.
“And I think the other really important thing to come out of the trek, alongside that fundraising and that connection to cause, is an ongoing involvement with zero2hero.
“Whether that means that you know some of these business leaders, especially that have done the CEO Trek, their staff might mentor on camp, or their kids attend camp, or they campaign within their school to have our programs go into their school.
“Sometimes for some of the people that do the trek, it’s their first connection with zero2hero, and then very much the ongoing relationship post that is really important as well, along with an incredible fundraising tally.”
Wilf Chambers, 76, was the oldest participant by seven years to ever take part in the trek, after being persuaded by Ms Felton, who is a long-time family friend.
“I just think it's the youth that are our future,” Mr Chambers, who runs British car workshop Wilf Chambers Jaguar in Osborne Park, told Business News.
“I got three beautiful grandkids in Melbourne, and so they are our future.
“We've got to give them as best support as we can do.”
zero2hero chief executive and founder Ashlee Harrison said the cape2cape CEO Trek showed the impact WA business leaders could have when they brought their networks behind a cause
“The 16 leaders walking this week rallied together their networks to raise more than ($290,000) for young people’s mental health before they even crossed the start line,” she said.
“Wilf is a fantastic example of what the CEO Trek is all about.
“After 33 years in business, he’s still willing to challenge himself, lead by example and use his network to make a difference.
Since launching in 2018, zero2hero’s cape2cape Trek has raised more than $3.8 million with more than 360 participants.
2026 CEO Trek participants
Matthew Jones – managing director, Create Homes
Jeff Robson – managing director, Access Analytic
Sean Breen – chief executive, FSC Civils Pty Ltd
Steve Gliosca – founder and managing director, Urbane Projects Pty Ltd
Anthony Russo Battagliolo – partner, PKF
Nic Osboine – director, Osboine Investments
Wilf Chambers – owner, Wilf Chambers Jaguar
Brendan Chaplyn – chief executive, Altrad
Bryce Varley – director, Showscreens Pty Ltd
Evan Campbell – director, Westralia Lifestyle Resort
Robert Slowey – director, OPRA Projects
John Bain – general manager, OPRA Projects
Simon Browne – managing director, Longreach Recruitment
James Thompson – managing director, Roofing Ninjas
Adrian Rorbach – general manager, Brooks Hire
Chad Djulbic – managing director, Jewelbic Brothers Pty Ltd
