Running for a cause at the Geelong Half Marathon

THE Geelong half marathon returns this Sunday, April 7 for their 35th year.

This year’s event is set to attract the biggest numbers since COVID, with entries to sell out at about 1,000 competitors.

The half marathon is run by the Geelong Cross Country Club and participants have the choice of completing the 21km or 5km options.

Club president and Race Director Kevin McNaulty said the half marathon has been quite successful and well attended in the past.

The club is not for profit and the event is their main fundraiser for the year, as they do not receive any other income.

“That brings in enough funds for us to subsidise club memberships and the fees, and also pay for equipment that the club has.”

All funds that are left over get donated to Geelong’s Andrew Love Foundation, allowing the club to put money back into the community.

Mr McNaulty said cancer was a cause close to the heart of the club and members were more than willing to pitch in.

“We’ve been donating to the Andrew Love Foundation through the Barwon Health Foundation for quite a few years now.

“Last year, we donated $20,000, so we’re hopeful that we can do something similar again this year.”

In the past the club has been able to raise enough funds to donate a chemotherapy chair, equipment for the nurse’s station and fund some of their programmes.

The 21km run will take participants along the Barwon River from Belmont to Breakwater, up to Fyansford then back to Belmont.

“It’s a nice course, fairly flat and a lot of people enjoy the scenery of the Barwon River and it’s a good way to showcase the Geelong region,” Mr McNaulty said.

He said normally 50 per cent of their runners come from outside the Geelong region.

“We get a lot of people from regional Victoria, but a lot of people from Melbourne as well, so that’s always a sign that we’re well received and well accepted on the running calendar.”

Registrations for the event close today (Friday, April 5).

For more information, head to gccc.au