About the Challenge
Since 2008, The Challenge has supported The Smith Family in raising over $10million to help children in need to break the cycle of disadvantage through education.
The Smith Family Challenge is an exhilarating 100km off-road adventure held over two days. Teams of four navigate by foot, bike and on the water to the finish line. Challengers pay the full cost of the event so 100% of donations go directly to The Smith Family programs.
For 1 in 6 Australian children growing up in disadvantage, it can limit their choices, opportunities and outcomes in life. Investing in their education delivers long-term positive benefits for them, their family and potentially generations to come.
All funds raised by the Challengers will help to provide these children with practical essentials like school books, shoes, bags, uniforms and the support they need to keep up at school and realise their full potential.
Thank you for your support!
"The Smith Family does extraordinary work with the young people of Australia, supporting their education and vastly improving their chances of breaking the poverty cycle they were born into. In March 2022, The Challenge will once again see some of Australia's most privileged show their support for young Aussies. Challengers put themselves through two days of gruelling competition, funding everything themselves and supported amazingly by generous sponsors. Thanks in advance for your interest, energy and financial support. After the event, we will publish our results and some stories of our endeavours as well as how the money we raise has changed the lives of Australian families. Welcome one and all, participants, sponsors and other supporters to The Smith Family Challenge"
Tony Davis
Non-Executive Director (& participant)
The Smith Family
About the Smith Family
The Smith Family is a leading children’s education charity helping disadvantaged young Australians to succeed at school, so they can create better futures for themselves.
Today, 1 in 6 Australian children lives in disadvantage, where even life's basics are hard to come by. When families are experiencing financial disadvantage, children can fall behind in their learning, leaving them more vulnerable to experiencing hardship themselves later in life.
Investing in the education of a disadvantaged child today has long-term benefits for them, their families and the communities they live in. By supporting a disadvantaged child to participate fully in their education, they can achieve better life outcomes overall.
The Smith Family supports children in need through Learning for Life. This program helps them to participate more fully in their education through a three-step approach. Financial, practical and emotional support supports their educational journey throughout their school years. This innovative, evidence-based approach is improving the attendance and attainment rates for disadvantaged children at school, and in addition is enabling them to be engaged in higher education studies or work after leaving the program.
In the last year our work reached more than 206,000 disadvantaged children and families in 91 communities in Australia.
