Rugby Legend Walks 300km, Raises $170K for Dementia Research

A rugby league champion who refused to let Alzheimer's disease slow him down just finished walking 300 kilometers to help find a cure for the condition affecting his own life.

Royce Simmons, 67, completed his fifth annual fundraising walk from Gilgandra to Cowra in New South Wales, raising more than $170,000 for dementia research. The former Penrith Panthers captain was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's five years ago at age 61.

"You meet other people with dementia and you think you're going to go down that track, so it keeps you on edge," Simmons said. But instead of giving up, he turned his diagnosis into action.

Over 12 days, Simmons walked through the Central West region of Australia, stopping at his birthplace of Gooloogong midway through the journey. Family, friends, and local schoolchildren gathered to welcome him home to the small town where he grew up.

His sister Maria Niven watched her brother arrive with pride. "I think it is helping him cope with this rotten disease," she said. "I'm so proud that he can still do these things."

Former teammates joined Simmons along the route, including rugby legends Brad Fittler, James Maloney, and Darren Britt. Local residents brought biscuits and drinks to the walkers as they passed through towns.

Why This Inspires

Simmons is challenging a dangerous misconception about dementia. "People think dementia is an old person's problem," he said. "There are a lot of people now living in their 30s, 40s and 50s who are starting to get dementia."

Dementia is currently the leading cause of death in Australia, affecting about 446,000 people. Another 1.7 million Australians care for someone with the condition.

The money raised funds research programs searching for a cure. Over five years, Royce's Big Walk has now raised more than $2.2 million total, and donations continue through the end of September.

Despite his remarkable achievement, Simmons stays humble about his mission. "I can't walk around thinking I'm doing a good job until someone finds an answer to that," he said. "If our foundation can play some part to find a cure, that's all I'm really looking for."

His former teammate Darren Britt summed up what many feel about the rugby great: "Anyone in any need, he was always out there to help them."