Walk or run for Samantha

THIS WEEKEND, locals will be taking part in a seven-kilometre walk, in honour of a mother who never got to finish her run.

At 7am on Sunday, the walk will begin at Rupert Vance Moon Reserve at the Avenue of Honour in Bacchus Marsh, in honour of Samantha Murphy, who remains missing.

Organised by local women Melanie Tudball and Teena Buskens, the walk will be at a comfortable, conversational pace – more about supporting and reflecting on Ms Murphy than setting a fast pace.

Ms Tudball said the idea had come about after she and a friend were talking about how they felt unsafe walking or running alone at times.

“We wanted to create an environment where people could come together, create connections and process emotions and feelings after the disappearance of Samantha. There’s a lot of fear amongst women, particularly after dark,” Ms Tudball said.

“We felt like creating an event to honour a wife and mother who went about her usual practice of running early in the morning and never made it home. Samantha is someone many of us relate to.”

The event will begin with one minute of reflection, followed by a seven-kilometre run, or three-kilometre walk.

“Samantha set out on a 14-kilometre run, and indications are she made the seven-kilometre mark. Runners will run the last seven kilometres as a way of finishing her run,” Ms Tudball said.

A Facebook event for the day has been made called ‘Let’s honour Samantha Murphy’, which at the time of writing has more than 250 responses.