Business leaders race to fund crisis support

GEELONG, Surf Coast and Bellarine business leaders are getting ready to raise some serious cash as registrations for this year’s Lifeline 135 Corporate Dash open.

The event aims to raise $40,000 for the Geelong Lifeline Centre, with participants required to raise at least $1,000 to earn their place on the 135m course at Geelong Racecourse.

The ace will be run on Friday 3 July, with the distance symbolising the 135 people personally impacted by every suicide.

Lifeline’s head of corporate and community partnerships, Michael Parker, said the event would help fund the training of new crisis support volunteers in the Geelong region.

“It costs us $3,500 to train our volunteers, so all money raised on the day means that we can train more volunteers to answer more calls for people in crisis,” he said.

Crisis support volunteers spend about six months completing formal training and qualifications before taking calls from people seeking help.

Parker said ensuring volunteers were properly trained and supported was a critical part of Lifeline’s duty of care.

“There can be some pretty intense calls and some pretty intense conversations, so the training that goes behind supporting our crisis volunteers is really important,” he said.

“We need to look after both the crisis supporters and the people in crisis who are calling.”

Parker said businesses of all sizes were encouraged to take part, whether participants were serious runners or simply keen to support the cause.

Now in its third year, the event gives local business leaders an opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to mental health and suicide prevention while raising funds for a vital community service.

Registrations are open at 135-corporate-dash-2026.raiselysite.com