Fun run goes on, but with less cash for Kids’ Appeal
A NEW community fun run hopes to fill the void left by Run Geelong’s exit from the city’s social calendar.
However unlike Cotton On’s major annual fundraiser, the new “Run for Geelong’s Kids” event will be donating only any profit to the Barwon Health Foundation.
Torquay-based sports event company Rapid Ascent has an- nounced that its debut event would be held on November 18, offering options from a 1km kids course to a 10km run.
Rapid Ascent, which had overseen the course logistics and competitor services component of Run Geelong since 2010, said it was proud to take the reins as the major organiser.
“We have considerable experience and passion to create this community event, that benefits our local health ser- vice and engages families within the Barwon region,” general manager Sam Maffett said.
“Every year hundreds of kids in our region need access to rehabilitation due to brain injury, stroke or spinal cord damage.
“To ensure these children are receiving the best care possible, the Barwon Health Foundation has pledged to raise funds for the development of a new kids’ rehabilitation centre.”
A Rapid Ascent spokeswoman confirmed that profit — not the full cost of registration — would be donated to the foundation’s Kids Appeal.
The Geelong Advertiser yesterday reported Cotton On had decided to shelve Run Geelong, after donating more than $12 million to Barwon Health since 2009.
More than 10,000 took part in last year’s edition, raising about $340,000.
But the retail giant said the event cost “considerably more” to hold than it raised, and it was now looking at different ways to support Barwon Health.
“The group is proud of what we have been able to achieve and now is the right time to evolve the fundraising model,” community manager Sam McGuane said. Cotton On has also scrapped its charity fun run in Ballarat.
The inaugural Run For Geelong’s Kids event will offer a 10km run, 5km run, 5km family walk and 1km kids run.
Barwon Health’s allied health director, David Meade, said he was thrilled the see the new partnership launched.
“This event will support our fundraising efforts to build a brand new, state-of-the-art paediatric rehabilitation centre right here in Geelong which will include a gym, consulting rooms, a therapy kitchen, playground and private treatment rooms,” he said.