By REBECCA BILLS
THE sixth annual Monbulk Fun Run is ready for action and looking forward to supporting another great cause.
Event organiser Kelly Utting said all money raised each year goes to a different charity or cause with the money raised this year going to the Worawa Aboriginal College in Healesville.
“The Worawa Aboriginal girls have participated in this event the last few years,” she said.
“Shuana Lamers, who is a local Monbulk woman and our next door neighbour, works at Worawa as a health and fitness leader and has encouraged the girls to run in this event.
“Some money towards a running and fitness track at their school will continue to promote a healthy lifestyle that Shauna has worked hard to establish in the girls’ lives.”
Mrs Utting was inspired to create the event after her grandmother, who dedicated her life to the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Australia charity, passed away in 2004.
In 2008 on the anniversary of her grandmother’s death, Mrs Utting went on a run and was thinking of how she could follow in her beloved grandmother’s footsteps.
“The event is so special to me because one small idea turned into such a great community supported event,” she said.
“It not only promotes health and fitness but it gives back to people in need.”
Over the years the event has grown from 30 people to more than 300 people participating in the years since.
Over the years the event has raised nearly $30,000 for charities including MS Australia and SIDS.
It has also helped the former captain of the Monbulk Football Club who was diagnosed with hairy cell leukaemia in 2009.
“I’m not sure if this running event is unique but it gets people to be active, supporting a great cause and just feel the fantastic community spirit which we are all so lucky to have in Monbulk,” she said.
“We always get great support from the whole Monbulk community in organising and supporting this event, especially the Monbulk Cricket Club who fills the majority of jobs required to run the event.”
The Monbulk Fun Run will be held on Sunday 10 November starting at 9am at the Monbulk Cricket Club.
There is a four and eight kilometre event which will both start and end at the grounds.
To get involved and for more information about the race or to volunteer, email Kelly at kellyembellish@hotmail.com.
