Region to run for the Reef

BALLARAT is one of four Victorian cities taking part in a simultaneous running event raising funds to help protect the Great Barrier Reef.

On Sunday, 16 October, 21 locations across Australia and New Zealand, including Bendigo, Geelong, Melbourne and Ballarat, will take part in the run4reef event, uniting over 100,000 runners across one, five and 10-kilometre runs who will all start at the same time.

Event manager Ginevra Johnson said the initiative started with the Port Douglas marathon and grew as more towns wanted to take part.

She said the event is directed by Olympian Steve Moneghetti and with the local run will take place along the south-west edge of Lake Wendouree near the Olympic rings.

Participants will be able to time themselves against other runners.

“We’ll have a big screen so you can see how you’re tracking, there’ll be music and lots of runners of all different speeds and skill, all for a really good cause,” she said.

Proceeds from the event go to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and WWF Australia, providing funds for restoration programs and research.

“It’s not just about the Great Barrier Reef, it’s the broader issue of climate change,” Ms Johnson said.

“A lot of people in the region know there’s an issue… sometimes these issues seem overwhelming so here we have Bendigo being able to provide a terrific opportunity to do something really proactive.”

Ballarat icon Steve Moneghetti is the nationwide race director and said that event has grown over a decade.

“We first started our run for the Reef events locally in Port Douglas back in 2013 where we hosted a marathon festival with the local community but adding this larger cause to a simple run really resonated with people,” he said.

“Since then, we’ve better understood the significant threats to the health of the Great Barrier Reef and have seen a major increase in the number of global citizens looking to make a change before it’s too late.

“We know now is the right time to bring people together and run as one to make a difference. The Great Barrier Reef truly is the barometer of climate change and we must act now.”