PEOPLE are starting to recognise the sky blue running singlets about Ballarat and that makes Jess Rutherford smile.
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They are a sign for awareness and a call for more research into Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
This is the second year Ms Rutherford has led a group of runners to honour her daughter, Charlie, who died aged 20 weeks in her sleep two years ago.
The sky blue singlets are a well-known mark of Geelong-based charity River’s Gift, the largest source of non-government funding for SIDS research in Australia. Ms Rutherford hoped more people would start to notice the blue this Sunday.
A Ballarat training program is preparing participants for Run Ballarat in six and 12-kilometre training programs. They train under Charlie’s Chapter, making their every step and fundraising efforts count.
“The main reason we set out to do this in Ballarat is for awareness. People are noticing the name of the charity and awareness and need for SIDS research,” Ms Rutherford said. “You can’t have a charity without people and running groups are the main fundraisers for us.”
Ms Rutherford’s whole family will be involved again in some form for Run Ballarat this year. Most will be along the course, holding up signs to support the team.
Charlie’s Chapter runners, trained by Ballarat ultra-marathon runner Tash Fraser, have also been busy hosting events like sausage sizzles to boost their personal fundraising commitments.
Wonderland beauty therapist Sophie Renall has committed to donate 100 per cent of her earnings on Friday to Charlie’s Chapter and SIDS research – and she plans to work extended hours well into the evening. Ballarat businesses G-Force and People@Work are also backing the campaign.
River’s Gift promotes SIDS research in a partnership with The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Heath and Harvard Medical School. The organisation also works to promote awareness through education and safe practice.
The training program aims to complement Run Ballarat, an event in which 100 per cent of registration fees boosts redevelopment works in the children’s ward at Ballarat Health Services’ Base Hospital. Construction work on the ward began this week.
To register for this Sunday’s Run Ballarat: runaustralia.com.au.