On Sunday 14 September 2025, the Blue Dragon Marathon Walk brought together the travel industry and the wider community in Australia and beyond, covering miles to shine a spotlight on human trafficking and raise vital funds for the cause. The annual event supports the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation and is delivered in partnership with The Intrepid Foundation.
Teams stepped out across the globe, putting the issue of human trafficking front and centre. Agencies, suppliers and supporters walked side by side to demonstrate what collective action can achieve.
Yvette Thompson, General Manager Sales & Marketing ANZ at Intrepid Travel, said the cause resonates deeply.
“Personally, the words human and traffic in the same sentence really affects me,” she told Karryon.
“The idea that in 2025, women, children, and in many cases men, can be taken from their families, be stripped of their passports and all human rights is incomprehensible.”
She pointed to Blue Dragon’s track record to underline the scale of its impact.
“They have rescued over 1800 Vietnamese people who have been trafficked. Just last week they rescued Anh who had been enslaved for the past 4 months.
“In addition to working at the grassroots level to save people, the Blue Dragon also works with the Vietnamese Government to create change on a national level. Plus, they also save children from homelessness and provide rescued individuals with the resources and support they need to heal, rebuild their lives and thrive.”
Thompson said the travel industry can be a force for change, noting it has the ability to drive awareness, rally support and raise funds to tackle the issue.
Intrepid teams mobilised worldwide
Intrepid staff, agents and partners logged steps and donations across continents. Thompson said the reach was broad.
“Sunday was special. We had Intrepid groups walking and fundraising across the world: across Australia, New Zealand, India, Thailand, Canada, Morocco and Vietnam to name a few. In addition we had agents and partners all getting involved. I am afraid to list names as I know I will miss out some who contributed significantly, but I’d love to shout out Flight Centre Travel Group, Helloworld, ATAC, CT Partners, Entourage Travel, NIB Insurance and PIP Travel for their efforts in both walking and fundraising. And of course to APT who have also been a long supporter of the Blue Dragon.”
A highlight for Thompson came on the Melbourne route.
“I ran into Vi along the walk in Melbourne. Vi was once a shoe shiner on the streets of Vietnam. Now, he is the co‑CEO of the Blue Dragon Foundation, helping children in the same vulnerable situations he once faced. The energy and excitement he demonstrated for the support he was receiving was beautiful to witness. He truly knows the difference that every donation will make.”
CT Partners leads by example
CT Partners CEO Matt Masson walked the Sydney route.
“Blue Dragon’s cause is personally something which resonates with me as I lived and worked in Vietnam for 12 years,” he told Karryon.
Masson said members responded with generosity.
“CT Partners has a long history of being involved with social causes prior to me joining in 2021,” he said.
“The members enjoy giving back to local communities and in the past we have supported various charities and social enterprises including Hands Across the Water and KOTO who work in Thailand and Vietnam, as well as The Wolfy Foundation and Red Nose in Australia.
“When we were approached by The Intrepid Foundation to join forces with them to raise the profile of Blue Dragon and to get our members engaged in the Marathon walk last weekend, we were happy to support this partnership.
“I am proud to report that we raised $4,000 in donations from across the network.”
“The values an organisation lives by are becoming more important than ever. As a leader in the industry, it’s important to inspire the younger generation to show them what we can achieve together outside of travel. These social causes also allow you to engage with your colleagues (and in CT Partners’ case, our membership) in a different environment and to show a more human side to each other by rallying around a shared goal.
“Being a Sunday, we also included our partners and in the case of my colleague in Melbourne, Harry her dog joined the walk. It’s not often you can mix family and business together.”
Donate and followAPT Travel Group steps up
APT Travel Group COO Lorna Heyward said the company’s support for Blue Dragon is personal and rooted in its long connection with Vietnam.
“As a touring company with long-standing ties to Vietnam, we’ve built meaningful relationships with local communities, guides, and families across the country. Vietnam isn’t just a destination for us, it’s part of APT’s story,” she told Karryon.
Heyward explained that APT has witnessed both the beauty of Vietnam and the challenges faced by its communities, and that experience inspired the company to give back in ways that extend beyond tourism.
“Supporting Blue Dragon is a natural extension of that connection. It’s about helping vulnerable children and families rebuild their lives and ensuring the places we visit are places we actively support.”
She detailed APT’s contributions, from logistics for the Melbourne walk to hands-on involvement by staff.
“Our team of APT volunteers walk alongside participants and staff the checkpoints, chatting with passers-by about Blue Dragon’s vital mission. APT volunteers also purchase and deliver the lunchtime BBQ, while APT’s OneTomorrow Charitable Fund provides financial support to the community groups that make the walk happen.”
The company also hosted a pre-walk activation at its office, raising over $2,500 for RUOK Day and featuring a presentation from Blue Dragon CEO Vi Do.
Heyward said supporting Blue Dragon aligns closely with APT’s broader social responsibility commitments, particularly around tackling human trafficking and supporting vulnerable communities in Vietnam.
“We share a philosophy with Blue Dragon of taking direct action and making a real impact. Our approach is simple: get things done.”
The response, she added, has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Our staff are really proud to work for a company that takes meaningful action beyond business. The walk gives them a chance to connect with a cause that’s close to APT’s heart and part of our story in Vietnam.”
Customers and partners have also responded strongly, with Mekong River cruise guests joining Blue Dragon walks onboard and the Blue Dragon mascot, Bluey, becoming part of trivia competitions.
“Seeing APT actively support a cause like this reinforces their trust and loyalty,” Heyward said. Industry partners have likewise praised APT’s leadership, with many keen to collaborate on future initiatives as part of the ATIA Modern Slavery Collaboration alongside Intrepid and Flight Centre. She noted partners this year included Intrepid Travel, Flight Centre Group, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Accor Vietnam, Roll’d, Helloworld, PIP & Co Travel, One Trip with Local, Entourage Travel, and LATAM.
“Supporting Blue Dragon is something that’s close to our hearts, and we’ll continue to do so for years to come. The Blue Dragon Walk and our ongoing support of the foundation is more than just a fundraiser, it’s a symbol of APT’s values in action.”
Donations remain open via the Blue Dragon Walk website. Supporters can also follow @bluedragonchildren on Instagram for updates and stories that show the difference each step makes.
KARRYON UNPACKS: The Blue Dragon Walk highlights the power of the travel industry when it comes together for a cause that matters. With its reach, visibility and influence, the sector can shine a light on human rights issues such as these.
