Aths legend’s race for a good cause

ONE of the most well-known figures in Bendigo athletics history, John Burke OAM, will be remembered on Sunday 18 August with the second running of his memorial race.

The 6500-metre John Burke Memorial Invitational honours the late runner-turned-coach who died in June 2022.

Money raised from the event will be donated to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.Bendigo Athletic Club president Justine Babitsch said the event is open to everybody, with sponsors Ben and Matt McAvoy, Burke’s nephews, offering up $550 in prize money.

“You don’t have to be in it to win it,” she said. “Bendigo Athletic Club’s motto is to run for health, fun and fitness, so you can just come out and have a run with us and support a really good cause.”

Ms Babitsch said the club hopes to surpass the $2,104.40 it raised last year.

“This is really special to me because cancer has affected a lot of people,” she said.

“Most would have been touched by cancer in some way or another, so it’s quite meaningful.”

A founding member of the Bendigo Athletics Club in 1970, Burke won the Maryborough Mile in 1959 at the age of 21 before forging a prolific coaching career.

He went on to train winners in almost every race distance at the Stawell Gift, with many of his runners gaining selection to various representative teams.

For further information about the event visit the Bendigo Athletic Club Facebook page.