Ballarat's biggest community event of the year Run For a Cause kicks off tomorrow and thousands will be hitting the pavement for health and charity. But what exactly is the cause?
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The cause is all about the kids. It is about early childhood development and ensuring all kids have the skills and to be their best . This is about the future of Ballarat and what could be a better reason to join in
But just in case you may have missed our extensive coverage of the seven designated charities that will be the recipients of Run for a Cause this year, here they are again
Ballarat Reads
The Ballarat Reads programs is helping young mothers develop a love of books and reading in their children.
A book is delivered to the homes of children aged zero to five-years-old each month through the Ballarat Reads program, that has now expanded to support the Yuille Park Young Parents Program.
Eight families in the young parents program have been enrolled in Ballarat Reads, and a workshop held at the school's Delacombe site helped support the young mothers to understand the importance of spending time reading with their children.
Ballarat Toy Library
On Tuesday and Sundays at the Ballarat Toy Library, dozens of children come together to learn, socialise and experiment through play.
More than 120 member families have access to 1500 toys at the library, helping them save money and space by loaning rather than purchasing toys.
Volunteers at the Ballarat Toy Library are calling for members of the Ballarat community to register for Ballarat's biggest fun run event and support their cause.
Uniting Ballarat Run
Fundraising from Ballarat charity event Run For A Cause will help provide additional equipment and resources to meet the demand for early childhood services at Cardigan Village.
Uniting Ballarat opened a kindergarten service at Cardigan Village in 2019 and has seen a 'substantial' increase in enrollments for 2020.
Uniting's Early Learning Area Manager South West Victoria Paula Clarke said the service was established to cater for growth in the area and young families on rural properties.
Eureka Mums
The Eureka Mums organisation helped almost 2000 children in the last financial year, equating to around half a million dollars worth of re-homed items.
Volunteers collect donated items, clean and check them and package them as a gift that can then be re-homed to families through case workers, or maternal child health nurses.
Eureka Mums operations mananger Trinsa Lewis said the organisation could assist with clothing for children up to 12-years-old, but the main focus was to provide items like cots, prams, car seats, nappies, clothing, blankets and toys for newborn babies.
Eureka Community Kindergarten Association
The Eureka Community Kindergarten Association is hoping to upgrade numeracy and literacy resources across its 27 centres with funding raised through Run For A Cause.
Plans for upgrades include purchasing new books, puzzles, counting games and games that include letters and other literacy concepts.
ECKA chief executive Jo Geurts said the charity partnership with the Ballarat Foundation's fundraising event would help provide the most up to date resources for Ballarat's youngsters.
Sebastopol playgroup
On Monday's at Sebastopol Primary School's Playgroup Hub, a group of parents and young children come together to develop Spanish language skills through play.
It is one of seven playgroups run at the site each week, including a Japanese playgroup and the Me and My Dad program that will be supported through fundraising from Ballarat's biggest fun run, Run For A Cause.
Spanish Playgroup leader Araceli Zumaglini began the program six months ago and has been joined by up to five families during the weekly sessions.
Ballarat Community Health
Ballarat Community Health is participating in Run For A Cause to raise funds for Ballarat's most vulnerable children.
The community health service is seeking funding to provide paediatric services to children in family services and out of home care to enhance their health and well-being outcomes.
Ballarat Community Health general manager Katherine Cape told The Courier there was a great need for accessible proactive health services for young children who have experienced abuse and neglect.