A SPECTACULAR bushwalk to get the heart pumping and raise vital funds for stroke prevention and education is open for registrations.

Local charity Tasmanian Iconic Walks’ annual fundraising hike will be held on Saturday, April 1.

“I am incredibly proud of the walk and the people who have made it a success so far by lacing up their hiking boots, raising funds and taking part,” said walk founder Jo Cordell-Cooper said.

“They have raised $165,778 for stroke prevention and education charities in the past, a cause close to my heart.” The fundraising hike is at Mount Field and coincides with the ‘turning of the fagus’, Australia’s only deciduous beech, with leaves turning from green, to red, orange to golden yellow before the leaves fall completely.

There are two options: a walk in and out to the Tarn Shelf taking three to five hours or the 14km Tarn Shelf Circuit taking six to eight hours.

“This year we are proud that we will be partnering with the Menzies Institute for Medical Research, who will use 100 per cent of funds raised for developing their Preventing Stroke MOOC (free online course), Ms Cordell-Cooper said.

“So now, we call on all mad keen hikers (or want to be mad keen hikers) to form teams of four. We challenge our participants to raise $250 per person or $1000 per team.”

“We are also thrilled to be welcoming back two of our strongest supporters and champion fundraisers, Matt Picone and Nic Stevens on this year’s walk.”

Both Matt and Nic are stroke survivors, who have tackled the walk in previous years.

The Tasmanian Iconic Walk organisation and hike was inspired by Jo’s father Ron. Ron experienced two strokes and lived with poor health for a further four years before passing away.

For more information and to register go to https://www.mycause.com.au/events/tasmanianiconicwalks