By Russell Bennett
At its core, Gembrook’s Kids Fun Run with Thomas has always been about kids helping kids.
The annual event – organised by the Rotary Club of Emerald and District at Gembrook’s Puffing Billy station – provides a chance for children aged from three to 12 to run alongside Thomas the Tank Engine while also raising some much-needed funds for young people their age in a less fortunate position.
Later this month, the Berwick-based Insight – an education centre for the blind and vision impaired – will receive some much-needed financial assistance from the fun run.
In the recent past, the Cerebral Palsy Education Centre and the William Angliss hospital have also benefitted.
Cockatoo Primary School student Jayden Regan is just eight years old, but this year’s fun run will be his fifth alongside the iconic railway. In his four events so far, he has raised a staggering $3289.50 – all towards a great cause.
“To all the people out there reading this, if you have a child or you are a child, you should enter the run,” he said.
“If you are a child you should ask your mum or dad if you can enter.”
The event is already reaching far and wide across the state, too.
Insight principal Timothy Hemphill has twin daughters at Catholic Ladies’ College in Eltham – Madeleine and Juliette – who are also getting involved.
“My involvement in this event mainly centres around the Disability Justice League, which is a (school) program or support group which is essentially students supporting students,” Madeleine said.
“The aim is to get students like myself involved in issues concerning the disabled, particularly through Insight Education and first and foremost the event – the fun run.
“I hope to get students to donate for the kids to run – it’s $20 per student – but also to get a few of the girls to help guide some of the (Insight) students as well.
“The main reason why I started this group is that I’ve always had a passion about the disabled. Ever since I was younger, I believed that it was such an important issue in the community, and I believe these students should be supported by those who understand.”
The Kids Fun Run with Thomas will be held on Sunday 26 November at Gembrook’s Puffing Billy railway station.
To enter online, visit www.kidsfunrunwiththomas.org.au or for more information call 0408 769 491. Some of the event’s major sponsors include Puffing Billy Railway, the Emerald Co-Op Mitre 10, Barry Plant Emerald, and Ferntree Gully Nissan.
