When Sergeant Jared Hutchinson's three-year-old son Dean was diagnosed with leukaemia, his family's world changed overnight.
Within hours they left Darwin for Brisbane so Dean could begin urgent chemotherapy, leaving behind their home, their community and their Army family.
However, back at Robertson Barracks, soldiers from 5th/7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, decided they would not let their mate face that battle alone.
They established the Pack March to Paris, a charity event to help send the Hutchinson family on a dream trip to Disneyland Paris once Dean completed his treatment, to give them something to look forward to.
For a gruelling 48 hours in August, soldiers shouldered packs and marched 6000km in Darwin's heat, raising $21,022 - far more than their $15,000 goal. The funds will pay for the family's holiday, with the remainder donated to a children's cancer charity.
Officer Commanding Bravo Company Major Jamie Frisby said the effort reflected the heart of Army.
"When Sergeant Matt Haywood brought the company together and pitched the idea, everyone put their hand up straight away. That told me all I needed to know about the character of this unit," Major Frisby said.
"Some soldiers are not the best pack marchers, but they still turned out because the cause mattered more than the discomfort. For me, it reinforced that Defence is built on mateship. When one of ours is in need, the response is immediate and genuine."
'When you are in the middle of a crisis, it is overwhelming to see just how much support Defence and your mates can give you.'
Sergeant Hutchinson said the outpouring of support was overwhelming.
"What touched me most was the way people I had worked with, and even those I had not, still contributed. That sense of Army family is real. Seeing my mates sacrifice their time, sleep and bodies is incredibly touching," he said.
"Dean may not understand now, but I look forward to the day he learns what was done in his name. I would have loved to be out there marching alongside them, but knowing they carried the weight for me and my family means everything.
"When you are in the middle of a crisis, it is overwhelming to see just how much support Defence and your mates can give you."
More than 200 soldiers took part, while others worked behind the scenes.
The greatest individual distance covered was 120km by Bravo Company's Corporal Samuel Walton.
"No one was directed to march," Major Frisby said.
"Soldiers chose to because they wanted to. Even those who could not march supported in other roles."
Sergeant Hutchinson also paid tribute to Defence Member and Family Support staff and Defence Housing Australia for helping his family relocate on short notice.
The Hutchinsons will remain in Brisbane for two years while Dean undergoes treatment.
