THIS was a fantastic sole-ful effort Ballarat.
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The inaugural Run for a Cause was a real call to arms (and feet) for the city to both put a fun run event firmly back on the Ballarat calendar and to do what we do best – step up and support others in need in our community.
When CottonOn called time’s up on Run Ballarat in May, it was always going to be a huge ask to get Ballarat moving as one back on course.
The Ballarat Foundation accepted the challenge in late July and, with support from a massive cross-section of the community, managed to pull off the massive feat.
The Foundation is to be congratulated for an incredible running start in taking on a hugely ambitious project with such passion and such an acutely community focus – run all by Ballarat people, for Ballarat people to help Ballarat’s most needy.
Foundation chief Matt Jenkins wants to particularly thank you – each and everyone who laced up and ran, walked or rolled the event.
Elite athletes, including Commonwealth Games para-racer Sam Rizzo, set an impressive pace on a new fast and flat course, designed by The Running Company's Julian Spence for runners of all abilities.
While it was great to watch top athletes burn up the course, this event was very much about everyone getting out on course together in a united effort to tackle hunger in our community.
Making a move to support our frontline food relief charities may not seem as tangible a cause as the former call to support sick children, but it is one everyone on course on Sunday proved they could relate to.
Olympian Steve Moneghetti, a Run ambassador, says Ballarat deserves a major fun run as a strong sporting city, to promote exercise, and importantly to work together to help each other.
Moneghetti is right. We need this run. To have missed this opportunity this year would have left a gaping hole in Ballarat.
To have about 1650 participants moving through Victoria Park and by Lake Wendouree is a sound start for a new event. Now the challenge is on all to pull together and help this grow.
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