Call is out for more team entries

Nominations are now open for the 2024 Blue Lake Fun Run as organisers look to attract at least 1000 participants for this year’s event, which is set down for Sunday, November 24.

While they are hopeful of the usual influx of individual competitors the event has attracted since its inception in 2010, they are focussing on attracting more teams (10 or more participants), returning to the halcyon days of pre-COVID events when a large number of schools, sporting clubs, community groups and businesses entered as teams in the event.

The original three distance events are again at the centre of the fun run with 10.4km (Warwar); 6.8km (Berrin) and 3.2km (Thugi Dash) on offer for everyone, whether they are serious runners looking to compete against the clock or whether a family, who wants to walk the course as a fun fitness activity and for the third year, the half marathon is also part of the program.

What is new in 2024 is the naming rights sponsor with AAM Timber adding the Blue Lake Fun Run to its growing portfolio of community sponsorship.

Blue Lake Fun Run committee chair Mark Praolini has encouraged everyone interested in being part of the 2024 event to stay up to date with all information via the fun run’s website and social media channel.

Organisers are looking for more volunteers for the November 24 event.

“Rotary runs the event but you don’t have to be a Rotary member to get involved and help and we are hoping people from the community will put their hand up to come and help with this fantastic community event,” Mark said. “There are a number of jobs that need doing both before the day and also during the event.”

The fun run doubles as a community fundraiser, handing out thousands of dollars to community groups and projects and is, and always has been, an inclusive event catering for all fitness levels run by the Lakes Rotary Mount Gambier club.

AAM Timber is the event’s major naming sponsor, while the City of Mount Gambier is a major sponsor and Carlin and Gazzard is a Gold Sponsor, while there is a raft of other businesses and individuals that provide both financial and in kind support to ensure the event can be run.

Running tops and singlets with a new design are on sale for the 2024 Blue Lake Fun Run, with EB Graphics having brought the new merchandise to life, with all participants receiving a medal to commemorate their efforts at the end of the run.

There will also be the usual water and fruit station at the end of the run, with the usual onsite catering, including a coffee van at the Cave Gardens as well.

“We also really appreciate the support of Elders, who allow us to use their undercover carparking area,” Mark said.

There are prizes for competitors across all distances and organisers have added new categories in the running for top three finisher prizes – 40-50; 50-60 and 60-plus.

Thanks to the generosity of Metro Bakery & Café, there will also be two best dressed prizes awarded on the day.

“It is just such a great community event focussing on health and fitness but also raising funds for important community projects,” Mark said.

Head to the Blue Lake Fun Run website to enter the 2024 event.