A Point Cook mother is embarking on the trip of a lifetime in celebration of the bonds of womanhood.
While struggling to conceive a child 10 years ago, Cherie McKay turned to the internet for support.
It was in an online forum that she connected with women around the world in a similar situation.
“We’re a close group who have daily conversations,” said Ms McKay, who now has four children.
“We discussed the finer details of trying to make a baby. These women meant ‘hope’ to me. There have been several dramatic circumstances over the years between us all and they’ve always meant hope and support.”
After a decade of speaking to her online friends, Ms McKay has finally built up the courage to meet them.
She will leave next week for a 40-day campervan trip through the US to meet friends in cities including Los Angeles, Phoenix, Houston, Chicago and New York.
“I can’t wait to sit down and have a coffee with these women,” Ms McKay said.
“We’ve cried together, we’ve laughed together, but this time I can actually sit down and hear their laugh instead of reading ‘LOL’.”
Ms McKay will also raise money for women while travelling through America.
“I studied midwifery some years ago but was unable to complete my studies because of personal circumstances,” she said.
“This trip is about being with women. The term midwife means ‘with women’, so I’ll be raising funds to support a woman finishing her midwifery degree in Ethiopia.”
The funds raised will go directly to Hamlin College of Midwives in Ethiopia. To support the fundraising efforts, bit.ly/1NVakn8
