Jennifer Vandekreeke, Director Carnival Cruise Lines, showed off her Aussie spirit last month as she took on the Northern Territory in a race that would see her conquer the beautiful yet rugged terrain of Australia’s outback.

The Vandekreeke family (which includes husband Robin and twins Phoebe and Chase) touched down in the Red Centre to tackle the Australian Outback marathon, with the aim of learning about the Aboriginal culture, raising funds for the Cathy Freeman Foundation, and visiting some of the most pristine locations in the country.

The race was held on Saturday, 28 July between Yulara and Uluru, and according to Jennifer it was a truly spectacular adventure: “There were only 309 people racing, between the marathon, half marathon, 11k race and 6k race. My husband Robin decided at the last minute to do the 11k because it was just too beautiful not to race. I have to say that the energy of Uluru carried me through the entire race with a smile on my face. The countryside is so striking that the race flew by in no time. Visiting Uluru has made me fall even more in love with this raw, wild and fascinating country.”

As a result of their efforts, the Vandekreeke family raised $2,150 dollars for the Cathy Freeman Foundation, with funds going towards improving the educational outcomes of Aboriginal children on Palm Island. For those interested in donating to this worthy cause, you can click here to show your support.