Meet Lilanie: Walking alongside, every day

“My name is Lilanie Dagg, and I’m a social worker with Lung Foundation Australia based in Brisbane.”

In her role, Lilanie has the privilege of walking alongside people living with lung disease and their families, offering support that is steady, empathetic and grounded in understanding.

“What I value most about working with Lung Foundation Australia is being part of a team that genuinely cares – an organisation committed to ensuring that no one has to navigate their lung health journey alone.”

For Lilanie, being surrounded by colleagues who share this passion makes her work deeply meaningful and it’s also what inspired her to step up for the Larapinta Adventure.

The moment it clicked

Although Lilanie hasn’t been personally affected by lung disease, her work brings her into close contact with the lived experiences of people who are.

“Many share that they ‘used to be’ active individuals who loved hiking and exploring places – like the Larapinta Trail – and they grieve the possibility that those experiences may no longer be part of their future.”

Hearing these stories stayed with her. It became the turning point.

“That was the moment everything clicked for me. It inspired me to take on this challenge in honour of them and all the people who generously share their journeys with us.”

What started as daydreaming about the beauty of the Red Centre soon turned into a commitment – to walk in recognition of strength, loss and resilience.

Why fundraising for lung health matters

The importance of fundraising for Lung Foundation Australia is something Lilanie feels deeply, shaped by the powerful words she hears every day.

“Sentences like, ‘I know I won’t live to see lung research discovering a cure for lung cancer,’ stay with me long after the call ends.”

Alongside the heartbreak, Lilanie also hears determination and hope:

• “I’m not giving up without a fight.”
• “Maybe they’ll discover a cure while I’m getting treatment.”

“These voices remind me every day that being able to breathe is a gift, one that should never be taken for granted.”

For Lilanie, being part of this fundraising challenge is an honour, a tangible way to support research, raise awareness and work towards better outcomes for people living with lung disease.

Stepping into the Red Centre

The Larapinta Trail will be Lilanie’s first experience of Australia’s Red Centre, and she’s looking forward to every step.

“I’m really excited to move through some of Australia’s most iconic landscapes with a group of people all walking for a shared purpose.”

Mentally, Lilanie is approaching the challenge with openness and adaptability. Physically, she’s been weaving more walking into her everyday routine, a reminder to practise what she preaches.

“It’s been a great reminder to keep myself moving and to practise what I preach when I talk to people about the importance of staying active.”

Each training walk feels like progress, not just toward the trek, but toward something bigger.

Raising awareness through action

Since launching her fundraising page, Lilanie has been humbled by the generosity shown by her supporters and it’s only fuelled her determination.

By taking part in the Larapinta Adventure, she hopes to spark more conversations about lung health within her own community, especially among people who may be thinking about making changes but haven’t yet taken that first step.

“I also hope that seeing the Lung Foundation Australia social worker step into something physically demanding – and well outside my usual comfort zone – encourages others to consider some of the harder actions we talk about on the support line.”

To anyone considering the trek next year, Lilanie’s encouragement is clear: it’s a meaningful way to challenge yourself while standing alongside people living with lung disease.

And for the wider community?

“Lung health matters, and every step we take together helps bring greater awareness, compassion and hope to those who need it most.”

Looking ahead

By the end of this challenge, Lilanie hopes to walk away with a deeper understanding of what it means to step outside her comfort zone – just as the people she supports are asked to do every day.

“This trek is an opportunity for me to honour their courage, their honesty and the resilience they show in the face of uncertainty.”

If you’d like to walk alongside Lilanie on this journey, there’s a simple but powerful way to do so. By donating to her fundraising page, you’re helping fuel vital research, support services and advocacy for people living with lung disease and lung cancer – and reminding them they’re not walking this path alone.

Every donation, big or small, helps keep hope alive and brings us one step closer to better lung health for all.

“If my participation helps even one person feel seen, supported or motivated to take a positive step for their health, then this challenge will have been more than worth it.”