Fun run for serious cause

THE O’Keefe Challenge is back and bigger than ever.

Starting with a night bike ride on Friday, 30 April, and then running events on Sunday, 2 May, the challenge takes place between Bendigo and Heathcote along the O’Keefe Rail Trail, raising funds for better dementia services.

President of the O’Keefe Challenge Rail Trail Committee Kerstin Brauns said there’s something for everyone.

“It caters for serious athletes that like to do the marathon, but it also caters for local individuals to just do a nice friendly low-key five-kilometre walk,” she said.

“There’s also some really short running events for the kids where they get encouraged to dress up in their best superhero outfit.”

The running events include a full marathon, half marathon, a 10-kilometre run, five-kilometre walk and an Ekiden relay – a marathon split into seven legs.

The main run starts in Junortoun and ends at Barrack Reserve in Heathcote, where many of Sunday’s events will take place.

All the events raise funds for the Heathcote Dementia Alliance, with the aim of establishing GIlbruk Place, a safe and secure dementia support village.

Ms Braun said the O’Keefe Challenge is a strong backer of Gilbruk Place.

“It’s passed its feasibility study; it’s now sort of in its program of scoping for funds,” she said.

“There’s also been a lot of work in the Heathcote township and community in training people in understanding dementia.

“I think it’s going to be a real exciting gamechanger for Heathcote.”

Ms Braun said interest in this year’s event has been huge and many people are ready to get moving.

“We’re looking at having our biggest O’Keefe Challenge ever,” she said. “I think a lot of people took lockdown last year as a chance to get up and get active because everybody had a bit more time to do things.

“People have been training all year so we’ve got really fantastic registrations, and a lot more people will turn up on the day.

“I think we’ll be looking at over a thousand registrations this year which is excellent for the community.”

For registration and full details visit theokeefe.com.au.