Step forward for children
An organisation dedicated to changing the lives of seriously ill children is encouraging people across the Wimmera, Mallee and Western District to join a national annual money-raising campaign.
The Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, which has strong ties to The Weekly Advertiser and radio stations 3WM and MIXX FM through ACE Radio, is the largest child-health research institute in Australia.
Each year it challenges people with its Stepathon.
Money generated from the Stepathon, the organisation’s largest national fundraising project, raises money to help researchers change the lives of seriously ill children.
More than 2000 researchers at the institute work around the clock to find better treatment and cures for health challenges facing children, such as cancer, autism, diabetes, obesity, mental health, allergies and genetic diseases.
The Stepathon is from March 6 to 12 and Australian children, adults, grandparents, families and groups can step up to the challenge of walking 100,000 steps in one week.
The Stepathon started in 2013 and originally targeted primary school children to promote the importance of getting active, while raising money for the institute.
More than 60,000 children have participated and raised more than $2-million.
Schools and various organisations have also used the program as team-bonding or simply fun challenges and activities.
The first 5000 children to register will receive a free pedometer.
Adult participants have the option to buy a pedometer or use a fitness app on their mobile smart phones to track their progress.
Money raised from previous Stepathons have gone towards many and varied projects.
These include evaluating the effectiveness of stem-cell treatment for people with cerebral palsy, inhalable vaccines to replace needles and technology to better understand and diagnose genetic disorders.
Stepathon ambassador and soccer superstar Tim Cahill said the work of the institute meant when a discovery was made in a MCRI lab, it could be communicated easily and quickly transformed into a practical treatment for children.
“100,000 steps in a week – that’s a huge leap towards curing and preventing the most serious illnesses affecting kids,” he said.
“If we all step up together, we can create a future where all kids have a shot at a healthy, happy childhood.”
Institute patron Sarah Murdoch said the institute believes every child deserves a healthy start to life and a happy, prosperous community needs healthy children.
Organisers aim to have 10,000 people signed up for the Stepathon before March.
Individuals, groups, teams and families can register for the Stepathon or make donations online at stepathon.com.au.