Popular event back on the rail trail

CONFIDENCE is high that one of Greater Bendigo’s most popular community events will be another success.

The O’Keefe Challenge will take place on Friday, 29 April and Sunday, 1 May with its usual cycling, running and walking events along the O’Keefe Rail Trail.

President of the O’Keefe Challenge board Kirsten Brauns said despite the COVID-19 pandemic, last year’s event had a record number of registrations.

“We’re hoping to break that again this year,” she said. “Things are looking a little uncertain with the COVID isolation requirement for people, but we’re hoping to get a really strong push of registrations just before the event.”

The event kicks off with a Friday night cycling event from Axedale to Heathcote.

“That’s finishing at Palling Bros Brewery so you can have a bit of a party there afterwards with a band and everything,” Ms Brauns said.

“Everyone’s encouraged to dress up and put lots of lights on their bikes. The super keen can actually ride from Bendigo and make it a little bit longer.”

On Sunday, the usual host of events will be held including a marathon from Strathfieldsaye, and a half-marathon from Knowsley, both finishing at Barrack Reserve.

At the reserve there will be a 10-kilometre walk/run and the five-kilometre walk against dementia, once again raising money for the Heathcote Dementia Alliance who are in the process of building a village in the region.

Ms Brauns said the partnership between the challenge and the Alliance has been a perfect fit.

“We’re a community event promoting health and wellbeing in the community, and the Heathcote Dementia Alliance is also promoting health and wellbeing in getting the township ready for building the dementia village, which should get a big announcement fairly soon,” she said.

“It’s been a fabulous partnership for us, and now the Alliance is working on a project to build Gilbruk Way, which will be a pathway connecting the town centre out to the O’Keefe Trail and come out where the dementia village is going to be. That’s going to look beautiful.”

Registrations for the challenge are open right until the event starts at theokeefe.com.au.