The final strides to the Ballarat Marathon

IT is a week until the Ballarat Marathon gets underway with the Ballarat Health Services Foundation as the headline charity partner.

More than 4700 runners, joggers, walkers and wheelchair athletes took part in the inaugural event last year.

More than 8400 entrants have already signed up for this year’s event, making it Australia’s fourth largest marathon event behind Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast.

This year will see the Australian Road Mile Championships become part of the program along with five and 10-kilometre races and the major half-marathon and full marathon events.

The festival is about more than running, with on-course entertainment, pre-race coffees from local cafes and a carb party.

“We are super proud of the way the event is touching all different parts of the Ballarat community,” Adam McNicol, Ballarat Marathon event director said.

“It makes the runners feel like wow this community is so on board.”

Foundation members, event organisers and Grampians Health staff marked the launch of the marathon last week.

Professor Matthew Hadfield, chief medical officer at Grampians Health has signed up for the 10-kilometre event and said money raised for the Ballarat Health Services Foundation benefits the entire community.

“Last year there were 330,000 appointments, admissions and presentations to this hospital,” he said.

“I truly believe that everyone has the right to exceptional health care no matter where you live.

“Fundraising helps us provide the healthcare we all deserve and with that fundraising we can transform a good hospital into a great hospital.”

The Ballarat Marathon Festival begins Friday 25 April. To donate to the Ballarat Health Services Foundation visit ballaratmarathon25.grassrootz.com/bhsf.