Hunter Water Hunter Hero: Michelle Faithfull is the Bar Beach resident who has raised $175,000 for charities

Over the past decade Ms Faithfull has raised $175,000 for charities, including $90,000 for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service and $59,000 for the Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation.

In order to do so, she has walked the Great Wall of China, the Inca Trail in Peru, Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea, El Camino de Santiago in Spain as well as the South Island of New Zealand.

For the past three years the 55-year-old has volunteered to organise the treks, convincing dozens of others to come adventuring with her.

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"It's really rewarding hanging out with like-minded people. They are terrified at the start, they don't know how to fundraise, but everything comes together. It's something that impacts people in the long-term."

Ms Faithfull's involvement in charities kicked off when she moved to Newcastle in 2004 and started volunteering for CanTeen. However, Ms Faithfull said her desire to give back extended to events 17 years before that.

"I had a daughter who was three-months premature, she was very tiny and she only lived for four months," Ms Faithfull said. "I spent months in an intensive care nursery with her in Cairns. I just had the opportunity to develop relationships and witness the caring nature of the staff, as well as charities' assistance in research and support. I vowed to give back to the community."

In 2010, Ms Faithfull signed up to do her first fundraising trek for Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service after she saw a pamphlet advertising the five-day Great Wall of China walk.

Tasked with raising $3,500 to participate she created Divas On The Green, an all women's golf day at Merewether. She pulled together $14,000.

Ms Faithfull participated in two more walks for the helicopter service and then organised and led her own walk for Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation. Ms Faithfull and her team of volunteer hikers raised over $40,000.

This year she led a trek for Kenyan children's charity Rafiki Mwema and next year she will take a group to Tuscany for Got Your Back Sista. Next year will be the tenth anniversary of Divas on the Green, which has contributed $125,000 to Ms Faithfull's charity efforts so far.

For the past three years, Ms Faithfull has worked as Compass Housing Services' event and community manager, a role she says she secured on the back of her volunteer experience.

"I get to do this for a living now," she said.

Ms Faithfull has recently become a marriage celebrant too.

"Bringing people together for a purpose ... that's the common theme."

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