HOT LAPS about the block every morning set the tone at PETStock’s Lydiard Street headquarters. Officially, the six-week challenge finished last week but staff have been looking to bring them back as they prepare together for their next health goal.
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PETStock marketing and operations manager Dion Collard said team members are rallying each other for next month’s Run for a Cause.
Mr Collard said the hot laps were a great starter for all abilities and fitness levels to get moving, and stepping this up to an event benefitting the community was great motivation.
“The laps are so good for health and fitness but also you see a lot of staff talking and catching up with others they might not sit near,” Mr Collard said.
“Run for a Cause is an event we felt really fitted our business values. We’re passionate about having fun, living well and always encouraging each other.”
It’s a good break away from the desk and it’s good for mental well-being.
PETStock staff are encouraged to set goals and pin them up by their desk to support each other. This be from giving up smoking, to giving up chocolate, moving more or drinking more water.
Mr Collard said hot laps, and the occasional squat-o’clock was a team effort – when the music went, everyone got up and moving. Run for a Cause adds motivation.
The inaugural event features 10 and five-kilometre runs, a 5km walk and 1km children’s dash. All money raised in entries will support efforts to tackle the region’s food insecurity.
Mr Collard said PETStock hoped there would be scope to get pets joining in future events. The team encourages other Ballarat businesses to try some hot laps and get moving toward a good community cause.
Issue more than just an empty pantry, say food relief workers
FRONTLINE crisis support workers want you to know food insecurity is more than an empty pantry shelf or access to a daily meal. Uniting Ballarat’s Naomi Bailey said food insecurity can impact the emotional connection we have with food, from the child who goes to school with a sandwich, but no fruit, to the older person who has two meals a day because three is too expensive.
Daily demand on Uniting Ballarat’s Breezeway program has risen 15 per cent the past 12 months and this is on trend with welfare services across the region.
Ballarat’s food insecurity will be put in the spotlight in Run for a Cause on November 18. Entries in the inaugural run-walk event will support agencies working to tackle the issue with 12 per cent of Ballarat residents unsure where their next meal will come from.
“It's fantastic to have the opportunity to talk about food insecurity on a local level. Many people who've never had to access services like ours simply don't know that we exist or why,” Ms Bailey said. “To be able to highlight the issues we are facing locally we can solve problems as a community, and with the full support of all local emergency relief food providers.”
Breezeway offers nutritious meals every day of the year to people who are homeless, unable to access cooking facilities or who are socially isolated. The program averages 74 free meals a day to a wide ranging client base.
The program relies on donations and community grants to purchase extra food to ensure a varied and nutritious meals. Ms Bailey said relying on donations can add stress staff and supply and she welcomed moves to help alleviate such pressure.
Key Run for a Cause details you need to know
DATE: Sunday, November 18.
THE CAUSE: food security in the region. Money raised helps support The Ballarat Foundation’s charity partners working in this space.
RUNS: 10km and 5km, which have been trimmed to what Ballarat is used to. Distances fit more in line with other fun runs, personal running goals, ParkRun distance and even what is contested at Olympic level.
FAMILY: There will be a 5km walk, suitable for people with prams, and a one-kilometre children’s dash.
COURSE: Start and finish events precinct in Victoria Park. Race ambassador Julian Spence said the course needed to be a little difference to what Ballarat is used to running, for example ParkRun, and include the iconic Lake Wendouree. The course is also flat to suit all runners, from those pushing for a fast run to those keen to get moving.
TRAINING: The Courier will feature Spence’s weekly training programs to help get you started. The Running Company is hosting a beginners’ group on Wednesday evenings from the store at 6pm. The Athlete’s Foot Ballarat is also running a couch to 5km program to the event on Tuesday evenings.
RUN EXPERTISE: Hometown Olympic marathon hero Steve Moneghetti and fellow marathon runner Julian Spence (The Running Company Ballarat) are event ambassadors.
BACKGROUND: The Ballarat Foundation announced in late July it would host the community event to help fill the void of a disbanded Run Ballarat, which raised more than $1million for the Ballarat Health Services children’s ward redevelopment in six years. The children’s ward opened in June.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED: Registrations are open at www.run4ac.org.
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