Emerald & District Rotary‘s 2023 Kids Fun Run with Puffing Billy
The Kids Fun Run is one of Emerald Rotary’s signature events. Since it was launched in 2002 it has been all about Kids raising funds for kids and each year the funds raised have been donated to a Children’s charity, which over the years has ranged from the Starlight Foundation, Monash Health, End Polio program, William Angliss Hospital, Cerebral Palsy Education Centre, Insight Education Centre for the Blind and over the last three years the Monash Children’s Hospital Cancer Centre. In this time the Club has raised $721,250.
The Kids Fun Run is one of Emerald Rotary’s signature events. Since it was launched in 2002 it has been all about Kids raising funds for kids and each year the funds raised have been donated to a Children’s charity, which over the years has ranged from the Starlight Foundation, Monash Health, End Polio program, William Angliss Hospital, Cerebral Palsy Education Centre, Insight Education Centre for the Blind and over the last three years the Monash Children’s Hospital Cancer Centre. In this time the Club has raised $721,250.
Click on Read more for rest of story and more pics. Album of pics here.
On Sunday 26th November we held this year’s event. The lead up was more than we had hoped for – coverage by Channel 9 News on Friday 24th November at 4pm & 6pm: https://x.com/9NewsMelb/status/1727957847898497273?s=20
All funds raised this year are again to be donated to Monash Childrens Cancer Hospital. A couple of families affected by their children’s cancer were offered the opportunity to ride Puffing Billy and Rotary was there waiting for them on their arrival at Lakeside and interviewed.
The size of this event requires every club member plus family and friends “on board” as the logistics of crowd control of up to 500 children ranging from 3yo – 12yo to undertake runs varying from 150 metres to 1200 metres takes some organisation. That is before we think about the train rides and transporting the runners in the last 2 runs by bus to the race start.
Planning has been over the last 7 months to source Sponsors and showbag items – both challenges however as ever we have been successful for both. Showbag packing is a job in its self but fun and again we get members to assist at the Gembrook Railway.
Despite the weather on the day not being quite what we had wished for, the event was a resounding success and whilst the final funds tally is not fully in, it will add to the $146,000 already donated to Monash in the last few years and take the overall total up another notch.
All funds raised this year are again to be donated to Monash Childrens Cancer Hospital. A couple of families affected by their children’s cancer were offered the opportunity to ride Puffing Billy and Rotary was there waiting for them on their arrival at Lakeside and interviewed.
The size of this event requires every club member plus family and friends “on board” as the logistics of crowd control of up to 500 children ranging from 3yo – 12yo to undertake runs varying from 150 metres to 1200 metres takes some organisation. That is before we think about the train rides and transporting the runners in the last 2 runs by bus to the race start.
Planning has been over the last 7 months to source Sponsors and showbag items – both challenges however as ever we have been successful for both. Showbag packing is a job in its self but fun and again we get members to assist at the Gembrook Railway.
Despite the weather on the day not being quite what we had wished for, the event was a resounding success and whilst the final funds tally is not fully in, it will add to the $146,000 already donated to Monash in the last few years and take the overall total up another notch.
Full album of pics here.
