A favourite event on the fun-run calendar, registrations for this year’s Brookfarm Byron Lighthouse Run are already coming in.
Now in its ninth year, this charity event has high hopes of reaching a milestone of having given away $100,000 to charity. Each year the event gives 50 per cent of its money raised to local charities and 50 per cent internationally.
‘This approach has been well received by participants,’ says event organiser Lisa Parkes.
‘This year’s international charity is Rafiki Mwena, which is a safe house in Kenya set up to house young girls who have been raped and sexually abused. The money will go to building a dedicated therapy room.
‘The local charity venture is Crackin’ Cancer, a local organisation that is raising funds to purchase CADStream Software for Lismore Base Hospital. This is software that enhances the MRI system and will aid in better and earlier diagnosis of prostate, liver and breast cancers.’
The 2014 event had just over 950 participants, mostly from between Coffs Harbour and Brisbane but also with some international participants, from places as far away as USA, Japan, UK and China, with many return participants. ‘We have a feature that is very popular, which is the team entry, and many teams dress up and make a day of it,’ says Lisa. ‘This year will feature a new event, which is the kids’ dash.’
Participant options are for a 6.7km walk or a 10km run. The event is professionally timed and there are some elite athletes who enter, but the main focus is on participation. A returning feature this year will be the massage tent, where participants can pre-purchase a massage as a reward for their efforts. Funds raised by the massage professionals from Alstonville Osteopathy will go to Beyond Blue.
A popular aspect is the presentation after the run, which features a random prize draw of around 100 prizes valued in excess of $10,000. This is testament to the support exhibited by businesses in the area and their commitment to this event.
Earlybird entry is open. online at www.byronrun.com.
