Most people don't consider a run from Melbourne to Darwin as a "warm up" but when it comes before a trek around Australia, that's exactly what it is.
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Fifty-seven-year-old Andre Jones laced up the joggers and hit the road on Sunday, March 10.
He's running and walking his way around Australia to raise funds and awareness for four charities; Beyond Blue, GO Foundation, Royal Flying Doctor Service and The Smith Family.
The former Nowra resident will make a stop in Milton, Nowra and Kiama later this month on his 15,000 kilometre adventure.
He's hoping to raise $60,000 - a dollar per kilometre for each of the four charities he's chosen to support.
Andre took on his Melbourne to Darwin trek in 2017, raising money for Beyond Blue. He's well-versed in the physical and mental challenges that lay ahead.
"I'll be on the road for 343 days so I expected my wife to say 'no way' but I used to be in the Navy so she's used to me being away," Andre said.
"I think the biggest challenge will be the mental attitude and being able to push through, knowing the next day with be the same.
"My wife asked me when I ran to Darwin when the hardest day was and I said 'day two' but she nailed it when she said 'if you were doing it for yourself, you probably wouldn't have made it but you're doing it for a cause bigger than you'."
Andre will be reunited with his wife on his finish date of Valentine's Day, 2019.
While he's been jogging and training regularly, Andre isn't taking on the fundraising adventure as a race. He plans to enjoy the journey, take photos and talk to people wherever he goes.
He plans to cover around 25 kilometres on some of his faster days. Palm Cove near Cairns and Broome are two towns he's particularly keen to visit.
Andre will be pushing a buggy on his journey, setting up his own camp, cooking his own meals and applying his own first aid. If you see him on the road, donate a dollar and have a chat.
He'll visit Milton on March 27, Nowra on March 28 and Kiama on March 29.