Surgeon's epic US hike to fund life-changing opportunities for kids

Australia Broadcast Center

a day ago

Adelaide orthopaedic surgeon Matthew Hutchinson has endured loneliness, treacherous mountains, golf-ball-sized blisters and even an encounter with a bear in his epic trek through America's wilderness to set up scholarships for underprivileged kids.Almost halfway through his mammoth fundraising 4,265-kilometre "big hike" from the bottom to the top of the United States, he was deep in bear country when he looked up to see a bear staring back.
He was in Yosemite National Park and the bear was watching him from a nearby rocky ridge.
With his heart pounding, Dr Hutchinson followed the advice of local rangers to remain calm as he packed up his tiny 450-gram tent and quickly restarted his journey towards the Canadian border.
"At this stage, he doesn't like the taste of Australians, and I don't want to test that theory," he recalled thinking.
A fortnight on from his brush with the bear, the 46-year-old self-confessed owner of a "dad bod" is two months into his four-month journey to conquer the gruelling Pacific Crest Trail.
Known for its challenging terrain and length through desert and mountain ranges, Dr Hutchinson is spending four months away from his family to traverse the trail and raise money to set up scholarships for students from underprivileged backgrounds.
Mr Hutchinson, who grew up in Victor Harbor in regional South Australia, said that without a scholarship to St Peters College in Adelaide, he would likely never have realised his dream of becoming a doctor.
"I would say unashamedly that I had a low socio-economic upbringing and had some disadvantage because of that," he said.
"When I was about 16, a school provided me with a scholarship … I still genuinely feel emotional when I talk about it, because that act of benevolence really fundamentally changed my life and enabled me to, I think, tap into some of my potential.
"I was a scruffy-haired bogan, Mum was still cutting my hair, I had a very sheltered childhood and had been home-schooled, so walking into that environment I was so fearful, but from day one I was just accepted.
"I was not from money or [the] social elite, I was the exact opposite, but I was really welcomed and nurtured."
After leaving school, he started his medical training, and it was around this time he made himself a promise: one day he'd give at least one other person the same opportunity he was given.
"In education, there's a huge gap in some ways between public and private," he said.
"I'm just a big believer that rather than kind of tearing down institutions or trying to bring people down, we should, as a society, be trying to build people up.
"So, the more children that I can give an opportunity … the better."
The orthopaedic surgeon, who has treated many elite athletes for sporting injuries during his career, has so far raised more than $100,000 towards his $250,000 target.
While his fundraising tally continues to rise, his weight has diminished, dropping more than 14 kilograms.
The trail is just under 4,300km, but Dr Hutchinson needs to endure many extra kilometres to travel in and out of towns for supplies.
"For example, I've just walked 24km to come off the trail and get to a town to resupply and then I'll need to walk 24kms back to get on to the trail, so there's clearly been multiple hundreds of kilometres already that I've accumulated additionally," he said.
Along the route there are also "trail angels", locals who keep an eye on the hikers and offer help when needed.
Dr Hutchinson said the locals had been "the most generous, welcoming, hospitable, beautiful people you could ever meet".
"I mean, this bloke picked me off the side of the road. I had not showered for five days. I stank and he drove me in his truck for 30km to a town just to help me out," he said.
When hospitalised in June due to gastro that led to severe dehydration, a local woman insisted he stay with her family until he recovered.
"She took me to her own house and cared for me until I got better for five days and would not accept a cent," he said.
Back home in Adelaide, his wife Annie Hutchinson said she cried when she heard he was being cared for.
"Just to have that kindness, for someone to show him, when I couldn't, meant so much," she said.
Although they were so far away, his wife and their four sons were doing all they could to encourage him to keep going despite the challenges.
"There are some kids, and Matt was one of those, no matter how hard you work, sometimes there are barriers that you just need a leg up [to overcome]," Ms Hutchinson said.
She and her boys will be waiting at Adelaide airport when Dr Hutchinson finishes his trek in October.
"There will be a lot of tears, happy tears," Ms Hutchinson said.